Unlike in most other cricket-playing countries, first-class cricket continued largely unabated in India during the First World War. Garnett made his first-class debut in the 1917–18 edition of the Bombay Quadrangular, scoring a half-century, 54, for the Europeans team against the Parsees. He went on to play matches in three out of the next four tournaments, with his final appearance coming in November 1921, during the 1921–22 edition. Garnett's one other first-class appearance had come in November 1918, when he played for "England" against "India" in a mock Test match celebrating the signing of the armistice to halt the war. His opening partner in that match was Harry Lee, a future England Test player, although he was the only past or present England Test player in the team. Garnett died in Calcutta in November 1933, aged only 52.