Dr. John Edward Barrett, born at South Melbourne on October 15, 1866, died at Peak Hill, West Australia, on February 9. He was educated at Wesley College (Melbourne), and played in turn for South Melbourne, Melbourne University and Sydney University. When only 17 years of age he appeared for XV of Victoria against the 4th Australian team, but his first match for his State XI was against South Australia, at Melbourne, in the following season, when he took five wickets for 31 runs in the first innings and six for 49 in the second. His chief scores for Victoria were 69, 56, and 55 v. New South Wales and 68 not out v. South Australia. His medical studies kept him out of cricket for some time, but he visited England with the Australian team of 1890 and was successful. His highest innings during the tour were 97 v. An England XI at Manchester, and 96 v. Oxford and Cambridge Universities at Portsmouth. In the Test match at Lord's he carried his bat through the innings for 67. As a batsman he was left-handed with very strong defence, almost invariably playing a patient game although he could hit when he chose. He was a useful change bowler, medium-paced, with a high action.
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack