July 1, 1965. Wally Hammond, one of the greatest batsmen to have played the game, died of a heart attack in Kloof, Natal, South Africa. Death beckon Hammond at the age of 62 in 1965 due to a heart-attack. It was sad because his family wasn’t well-to-do and the cricketing community came together to launch the Walter Hammond Memorial Fund. It is said that Hammond would have been the greatest batsman of his era if not for Bradman. With statistics of 7249 runs in 85 Tests at an average of 58.45 with 22 tons he was on record to be a legend of this era but Don Bradman eclipsed all his records with a mind-boggling average of 99.94 and 29 tons in his career.

July 1, 1965. Wally Hammond, one of the greatest batsmen to have played the game, died of a heart attack in Kloof, Natal, South Africa. Death beckon Hammond at the age of 62 in 1965 due to a heart-attack. It was sad because his family wasn’t well-to-do and the cricketing community came together to launch the Walter Hammond Memorial Fund. It is said that Hammond would have been the greatest batsman of his era if not for Bradman. With statistics of 7249 runs in 85 Tests at an average of 58.45 with 22 tons he was on record to be a legend of this era but Don Bradman eclipsed all his records with a mind-boggling average of 99.94 and 29 tons in his career.

टेस्ट क्रिकेट में अगर सबसे बेस्ट एवरेज वाले बल्लेबाजों की सूची देखेंगे तो उसमें सर वॉली हेमंड का नाम सामने आएगा. टॉप पांच बल्लेबाजों में आप वॉली हेमंड को जरूर देखेंगे. 1930 और 40 दशक में वॉली हेमंड दुनिया के बेहतरीन बल्लेबाज माने जाते थे. और जब उन्होंने करियर खत्म किया तो महान बल्लेबाज कहलाएं. टेस्ट क्रिकेट के भी और इंग्लैंड क्रिकेट के भी. वॉली हेमंड की बात ही अलग थी. कहा जाता है रंगीन मिजाज के थे और अय्याशियां बहुत करते थे. मैदान पर खूब रन बनाते थे. वॉली हेमंड का उस जमाने में सबसे ज्यादा का एवरेज था. लगभग 59 की औसत से उन्होंने टेस्ट क्रिकेट में रन बनाए जो बाद में डॉन ब्रैडमेन ने तोड़ दिया. ब्रैडमैन से उनकी प्रतिस्पर्धा खूब होती थी, पर आखिर में ब्रैडमैन ने ही बाजी मारी.

#WallyHammond #DonBradman #England