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The majestic Hammond

Gloucestershire v Nottinghamshire.

It was Tom Goddard's benefit match. Goddard, understandably, was a bit worried when at one point it seemed that the game may be over in two days. His team-mate Wally Hammond was supposed to have said, "Don't worry, Tom, they won't even get me out." And then he played one of the great innings. It was phenomenal batting. He scored more than 300. The second highest score was 66.

But there is a different story which Harold Larwood said, years later. Larwood, in the opponent's squad, didn't play in this match. According to him, when they played Hammond (Gloucestershire) the previous year, Bill Voce, Larwood's fast bowling partner took a fiendish delight in hitting Hammond all over his body with the ball. That day Larwood went up to Voce and said, "Look, Big 'Un, you might be enjoying yourself on this green 'un, but the bugger, he'll get his own back." Voce didn't pay much attention to these words.

Hammond took his revenge in this game. He absolutely took Voce to pieces. "Thank God I wasn't playing.", said Larwood.