Walter Reginald "Wally" Hammond

A member of the batting nobility

A brilliant, daring stroke player as a young man Wally Hammond modified his approach to batting to ensure consistent success and longevity in the game. He was the dominant English cricketer of the 1930s following his spectacular first tour of Australia in 1928-29 where he amassed 905 Test runs at 113.12. He was acclaimed for his heavy scoring and his 240 against Australia at Lord's in 1938 is among the greatest of his 36 double centuries.

His unconquered 336 against New Zealand in 1933 was the record individual Test score for five years. Muscular and well proportioned he was a captain of England who also bowled at a useful, nippy medium-pace and was a faultless, athletic fieldsman particularly at slip. He played for his beloved Gloucestershire from 1920 to 1951 and died a faded star in 1965.

'I think if Bradman hadn't come along Walter Hammond probably would have been recognised as the best batsman of all time.' Ian Chappell

'Hammond could hit the ball as though it had been fired from a gun. He could make spin bowlers on a turning wicket look inept.' Sir Leonard Hutton

The Stats

For all those who saw him, it was the way Hammond dominated the bowling that stayed in their minds. His muscular and imperious stroke-making set a standard others failed to match, while his probing seam bowling and swift and sure fielding secured him acknowledgment as the complete cricketer.

Did you know?

in the two Tests of the 1932-33 Series against New Zealand, Hammond made 227 in the first, and 336 not out in the second. He still holds the record for the highest average in a Test Series, of 563.00. As an all-rounder, Hammond is one of only 10 players to have taken 50 wickets and scored 5000 runs.