Tom Dent (cricketer)

Thomas Henry Dent (1879 – 11 September 1929) was an Australian cricketer and banker who played first-class cricket for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand in 1901 and 1902.

Playing for Scinde in Napier club cricket in 1900-01, Dent took 67 wickets with his leg-spin at an average of 7.36.[1] He played his first first-class match for Hawke's Bay in January 1901, taking 5 for 46 and 3 for 60 in an innings victory over Auckland.[2] In his next match three months later, against Wellington, he took 9 for 47 and 3 for 63. The match finished in a draw with Hawke's Bay, needing 132 for victory, 123 for 8 at stumps on the second and final day.[3]

He played his fifth and last match for Hawke's Bay in January 1902, taking 3 for 66 and 5 for 87 and scoring 56 and 30 not out in a six-wicket victory over Canterbury.[4] He and the Hawke's Bay coach Albert Trott (who took 7 for 58 and 4 for 93 and scored 68 and 80 not out) bowled unchanged throughout both innings except for one over by a third bowler to enable them to change ends.[5]

He moved to Sydney in July 1902 to work for the Bank of New South Wales.[6] Starting as a clerk, he was appointed branch manager at Bangalow on the northern New South Wales coast, then transferred inland to Kyogle to manage the branch there.[7] While working at Lismore, he married Mary McDonough there in 1908.[8] He continued to play cricket until his death, appearing with success for district representative sides.[9]

In 1929, after suffering from severe influenza and consequent depression, he shot himself. He was survived by his wife and their two children.[7]