kingkallis
International Coach
Adam Gilchrist ( + )
Damn you..Adam Gilchrist ( + )
Wally Hammond | Cricket Players and Officials | ESPN CricinfoAs a young man he was a dashing strokemaker; willing to tilt at all the bowlers of the world. He remained superbly stylish, his cover-driving, from front foot or back, utterly memorable. In those early days he cut, glanced, hooked and lofted the ball quite fearlessly. With his early maturity, he became a thinking batsmen. When he went to Australia under Percy Chapman in 1928-29, although he was only 25 he had worked out exactly how he would make his runs. Eschewing the hook altogether and, largely, the cut, he decided to score - off all but the obviously punishable ball - within the V between extra cover and midwicket. He succeeded with a new record aggregate for a rubber of 905 runs at 113.12 in the five Tests; which has still only once been exceeded (by Sir Donald Bradman, of course).
Even in his cricketing middle age, his footwork flowed like that of a young man. He would be down the pitch - two, three or four yards - with unhurried ease and, as he reached the length he wanted, the bat moved with languid certainty through the ball, which flew, with that savage force which was the measure of his hitting, to the place he wished.
Of the four great batsmen he was physically the finest and most powerfully equipped. He was a superb fast-medium bowler who often, as Sir Donald Bradman once remarked, "was too busy scoring runs to worry about bowling." When he was roused - as he once was by Essex bowling bouncers at the Gloucestershire batsmen - his pace could be devastating. "I never saw a man bowl faster for Gloucestershire than Wally did that day," said Tom Goddard, "and he not only battered them, he bowled them out as well."
At slip he had no superior. He stood all but motionless, moved late but with uncanny speed, never needing to stretch or strain but plucking the ball from the air like an apple from a tree.
...he knew that no justification of Walter Hammond's inclusion was required. "He was simply the best cricketer I ever played with."
Interview with Ian Wooldridge, 1977
Most cricket historians don't even consider him the second best of his era, rating him behind Hutton and Headley, who was the more aggresive and attractive player. Hutton on the other hand would have faced the stronger attacks and would have over come more when one considers his war injury. It was also said that Hutton had a weakness againts very fast bowling and was apparently not the fastest of scorers.Why do you say he isn't the second greatest ever? What reasons?
I know it's subjective, but I have NO doubt he is in the top 5, and for mine he is 2nd after Bradman.
From all I've read, Hammond was a very attractive batsman, probably in the Greg Chappell mould, upright and forceful, and played a lot through the V.Most cricket historians don't even consider him the second best of his era, rating him behind Hutton and Headley, who was the more aggresive and attractive player. Hutton on the other hand would have faced the stronger attacks and would have over come more when one considers his war injury. It was also said that Hutton had a weakness againts very fast bowling and was apparently not the fastest of scorers.
Quick statements like that are fine, but justifying them makes your point much betterHammond as second best batsman instead of Bradman is heresy.
BradmanQuick statements like that are fine, but justifying them makes your point much better
Who, in your opinion is better than Hammond, and why?
Pretty sure I said Hammond was the second best batsman ever, quite obviously behind Bradman....Bradman
Reason: 99.94
Which is why I said "cue Indian fanboi revolt"But you see, as an Indian fanboi, I have Tendulkar > Bradman > Hammond.