Geoffrey Philip Howarth OBE is a former New Zealand cricketer and former captain, who remains the only New Zealand captain to have positive win–loss records in both Test cricket and ODI cricket. He was the third most successful test captain for New Zealand winning 36.7% of games with 11 wins from 30 test matches. Before Stephen Fleming broke it in 2000, Howarth's 11 test wins was the record for most victories by a New Zealand test captain.

Howarth, after finishing school at Auckland Grammar School obtained six week trials at both Surrey and Gloucester in 1969. He took up a contract with Surrey and in his first year playing for the second eleven, he was informed in the last week of the season that he would not be re-engaged. He then scored 126 not out against Glamorgan in the last game of the season. Howarth was offered a full contract in 1973 and achieved the highest score (159) by any Surrey player that season. He was awarded his county cap in 1974.

One of New Zealand's first fully professional cricketers, Geoff Howarth overcame many disappointments to become a successful Test batsman and an outstanding captain. A neat right-hander with some delightful off-side strokes, he was especially severe on the half-volley, which he would drive unerringly. The younger brother of Hedley Howarth, Geoff was also a fine fielder and a useful offspinner. In 1969 he started a long and frustrating apprenticeship at Surrey, and it was not until 1972/73 that he represented a New Zealand provincial side. Useful performances in the Prudential World Cup of 1975 hinted at his quality, but it was not until 1977/78, possibly his last chance, that he revealed his true ability.

His best season with Surrey was 1976, when Howarth scored 1554 first class runs and two centuries. His highest first-class score was 183, for Surrey against Hampshire at The Oval in 1979, offering a cultured innings lasting four hours which helped Surrey to an eight-wicket victory. A specialist batsman, he was occasionally employed as a spin bowler; his best bowling figures were 5 for 32 for Auckland against Central Districts at Auckland in 1973/74. Howarth played a total of 188 matches for Surrey County Cricket Club in England between 1971 and 1985, and was the first overseas player to captain the club, which he did in 1984. In 1985, he continued as a non playing captain as Surrey used Tony Gray and Sylvester Clarke as their overseas players that season. Howarth described this as a "frustrating experience’ and was disappointed not to have the opportunity to prove my qualities as a captain at Surrey.

Howarth played some Test cricket with his elder brother Hedley, but most of his 47-Test career did not overlap with Hedley's. He played most of his career as a specialist batsman, captaining the team for 30 of those 47 Tests, and although his batting average of only 32 was not stunning, he did make six Test centuries. Four of those came while he was not captaining the side. He scored a century in each innings against England at Auckland in 1978. From 1978 to 1983, Howarth was rated in the top 10 batsmen in the world by the Coopers and Lybrand rating system.

In his debut series as captain, he led the side to their first Test series victory over the West Indies in 1980, when New Zealand won the first Test chasing 104 after being 73 for 8, then drew the second Test thanks to 147 from Howarth, and also survived an evenly fought third Test. He captained New Zealand between 1980 and 1985. New Zealand had a reputation for being hard to beat during this period, especially at home. Of the seven tests they lost under Howarth just one, against Australia in 1982, occurred in New Zealand.

Howarth was also part of the whirlwind One-Day circus of the early eighties that saw New Zealand take on the big guns of Australia and perform well above expectations. A particularly infamous and memorable moment in the history of these two teams occurred during the second ODI at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on February 1st, 1981, when Greg Chappell instructed his brother Trevor to bowl the final delivery underarm, thus preventing the New Zealand team from scoring a six and tying the match - a molly grubber. The New Zealand team was highly competitive that summer and the pressure was bubbling up. Brian McKechnie was to face the final ball and he stood no chance of lifting one out of the ground on the giant MCG, however a brain fart by Chappell forced him to make one of the worst decisions of his life. McKechnie batted the ball away and threw his bat in disgust, which was a brilliant reaction and one that would sour Trans-Tasman sporting relationships for years.

New Zealand captain Geoff Howarth, furious at the outcome rushed on to the ground in his socks to remonstrate with the umpires. But the action wasn't illegal under international rules, but had been outlawed in England where Howarth had cut his teeth. The umpires did have a shocker that day, denying a brilliant sprawling catch to Martin Snedden in the outfield and then not working hard enough to convince Australian captain Greg Chappell that his actions were not in the spirit of the game. They were competent, but not to to trusted. Legal it may have been - cricket it was not. Rod Marsh would grab Howarth as he entered the changing rooms and apologise,which meant alot to the Kiwi's captain. The drama filled New Zealand cricket grounds and enabled Howarth, whose players were on about $120 a game, to extract far better deals.

As Chappell walked out to boos at the SCG two days later, he passed Geoff Howarth, who turned to him and said, “you don't seem too popular out here mate - but good luck.” In the return series in New Zealand Chappell would score a memorable century and the New Zealand fans gave him a standing ovation. Sadly, for his brother Trevor it is the one thing he is best remembered for in his cricketing career and a piece of baggage he's been forced to carry for a lifetime.

In 1985, Howarth scored 84 over a five-hour period in his final innings in the fourth test against the West Indies at Sabina Park, Kingston. His partnership with Jeff Crowe of 210 runs was impressive given the New Zealand total of 283. He was subsequently dropped from the New Zealand team to play Australia. Howarth, on finding out he had been dropped, described it as "the lowest day of my life. My career had been destroyed. I did not know it was coming".

He scored 122 and 102 against England at Auckland, saving New Zealand on a worsening wicket. Confident, and sure of his place at last, he kept New Zealand afloat in a seething tide of English seamers in 1978, and in 1980 he captained New Zealand to an outstanding series win over West Indies. Further triumphs followed, including the first win on English soil in 52 years, and Howarth's astute captaincy and personable nature had a lot to do with it. Memories of New Zealand’s first test win over the mother country at the Basin Reserve might be slowly fading, but the magnitude of the achievement still brings a smile to the face. Hadlee was talismanic, capturing 6-26 in England’s second innings and 10-100 for the match, the sixth best test figures of his illustrious career.

Ian Smith described Geoff Howarth as "Quite simply the best captain I've played under to date...I always found him approachable and generous...Geoff Howarth had the midas touch. He also came to grips with the ins and outs of the one day game very quickly, perhaps the most important factor in the initial boom and success of the [New Zealand] team in the early eighties"

Now residing in England, Howarth returned to Wellington in 2012 as ambassador for the World Vintage Cricket Carnival; at that time he was coaching cricket at Haileybury School in Hertfordshire and continued to do so in 2017. Howarth was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to cricket, in the 1981 Queen's Birthday Honours. In the 1984 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was promoted to Officer of the Order of the British Empire, also for services to cricket.