I believe Hammond gets very overlooked in ATG discussions, probably because, he had the unfortunate luck to play at the same time as Hobbs, who was considered England's batsman (still is, according to many) and Bradman. So, I guess I'm putting his case forward.
But geez, when you look at his stats, he's absolutely insane.
In tests,
85 matches, 140 innings
7249 runs @ 58.45
22 centuries
7 double centuries
In first class,
634 matches, 1005 innings
50551 runs @ 56.10
167 centuries
Sadly, I have so far been unable to find further records of his first class career (double centuries), but in tests alone, those figures are amazing. Almost a third of the time he scored 100, he'd go on to 200. Only 3 players have scored more double centuries than him, one is the Don, and the other two have played many more tests than him. Apart from Bradman, only one player (Boycott) has a higher average than him in first class cricket, of those to score 20000 runs or more. He has scored the third highest amount of centuries in first class cricket however, playing 300 less innings than those above him.
He even came back, at the age of 43, after the second world war, afflicted by arthritis, to once again play test cricket. Had it not been for this, his average would have been 61.45.
Of course, he was also a very useful fast bowler, and an excellent slip fielder.
So I guess I'm putting him into my XI.
1. Jack Hobbs
2. Herbert Sutcliffe
3. Don Bradman*
4. Graeme Pollock
5. Wally Hammond^
6. Garry Sobers^
7. Adam Gilchrist+
8. Malcolm Marshall
9. Shane Warne^
10. Muttiah Muralitharan
11. Glenn McGrath
I guess people will still harp on about me needing a 3rd ATG pace bowler, but hey, both Warne and Murali have bowled early in test matches, and taken wickets. Hammond and Sobers can both bowl some pace if needed. Also, that's a damn good slip cordon, I reckon.