Page "Wally Hammond" Paragraph 36

As the 1936 season began, Hammond remained weak from the recent removal of his tonsils.

Returning to cricket too soon, he was in poor form ; he took a longer rest, which caused him to miss the first of three Tests against India.

It was July before he felt fully well.

In all first-class cricket that season, Hammond scored 2, 107 runs, averaging 56. 94, and took 41 wickets.

In county cricket, Gloucestershire appointed a new captain, Dallas Page.

Hammond had been offered the joint captaincy with Bev Lyon, conditional on his becoming assistant secretary at the club to enable him to play as an amateur, but declined for financial reasons.

Hammond returned to the England side for the second Test, making 167, his first century in 28 innings, scoring quickly throughout.

He was praised by Wisden for his control.

Hammond continued to score heavily in the third Test, making 217 after being dropped twice early on.

His highest score came in the last county match of the season, at Gloucestershire, which was Tom Goddard's benefit match.

A difficult pitch meant that wickets tumbled on the first day, prompting fears of an early finish which would possibly lose money for Goddard.

Hammond batted all of the second day, ensuring the match lasted the full three days, to score 317 out of a total of 485.