Carrigan, a middle order batsman and part-time medium pace bowler, made his first-class debut in the 1945/46 season but had to wait until the following summer to make his first Sheffield Shield appearance as the competition had been in recess due to the war.

After filling in for two matches in 1950/51, Carrigan was Queensland's captain for the entire 1951/52 Sheffield Shield season, where they finished equal second on the points table.

[3] He also had the distinction of captaining his state to a first-class win over the touring West Indians, who had won their last two Test series in India and England.

The West Indies again struggled in the second innings, with another six-wicket performance, this time to Mick Raymer, leaving the Queenslanders requiring just 29 runs to win, which they achieved without losing a wicket.

He played as a wingman for Windsor and joined Leo O'Connor as the only Queensland cricket captains to represent the state at Australian football.