WALLY HAMMOND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18640, 18 December 1928, Page 8

WALLY HAMMOND.

HE HITS THEM HARD. I

Seven bowlers were tried by Australia yesterday, and Hammond slogged them all. The idol of Gloucestershire had 201 to his credit when stumps were drawn for the day. It was a fine knock, says the cabled report. He made beautiful shots past point, but the main stroke was through the covers and to midoff.

Hammond came to the forefront at Home in 1927, when he earned the distinction, previously .held by the famous W. G. Grace alone, of scoring 1000 runs before the end of May in county cricket. Hammond, who is only twenty-five years of age, is regarded as one of the most promising batsmen seen in England for many a long day. He went to South Africa with the M.C'.C. team last cricket season, and, while he did not perform as well as expected with the bat, he came to light as a most useful change bowler. In England this year Hammond’s batting figures were4B innings, 2825 runs, 65.69 average. As well, he took 84 wickets for 1941 runs. His scores in Australia to date are : 14—v. West Australia. 145—v. South Australia. 225—v. New South Wales. o—v. Queensland. 44—First test. • 28—First test. *2ol—Second test. Beautifully built and loose limbed, with strong and pliant wrists, Hammond is essentially a stylist in method, and moreover, a firm believer in making the bat hit the ball. For the most part he is a forward player, and even in making a defensive stroke in this way he comes down harder on the ball than does the average man. He employs all the modern means of scoring, and can cut and turn the ball to leg with equal skill, but, above everything else, his driving is superb. With a new ball he can be most deceptive with his medium pace bowling, obtaining swerve in flight, and imparting spin to get life off the pitch. A beautiful fielder he is particularly brilliant in the slips or anywhere on the off-side.