W.R. HAMMOND DIES

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30793, 3 July 1965, Page 13

W.R. HAMMOND DIES

».V Z P A -Reuter—Copyright > DURBAN. July 2. W. R. Hammond, England’s cricket idol between the wars, died at his home in Durban last night, aged 63. Ranked with W. G. Grace, Sir Donald Bradman and Sir Jack Hobbs as one of the immortals of the game, Hammond was the greatest runscorer in English test cricket. His total of 7249 runs in tests on his retirement in 1946 i, a record still unchallenged. Born at Dover. Hammond led England in tests between 1938 and 1947. He scored a total of 50.493 runs in his first-class career, from 1920 to 1947. at an average of 56.10, and many more of the records he set still stand. Son of a British Army officer. Hammond spent his early years in India, China and Malta. He was educated at Cirencester Grammar School in Gloucestershire and played for that county from 1920 until he retired after the 194647 M.C.C. tour of Australia and New Zealand. HIT 22 CENTURIES He first played for England in 1925 and in 140 test innings he hit a total of 22 centuries. He also took 83 wickets as a fast-medium bowler and held 110 catches in test matches. His biggest test score was 336 not out against New Zealand at Auckland in 1932-33 Hammond went to South | Africa, the homeland of his second wife, on retirement. He settled in Durban and went into business, but later became coach and ground supervisor at Natal University.