 On his return to first @-@ class cricket in the 1927 season , Hammond made an immediate impact , becoming only the second man , after W. G. Grace , to score 1 @,@ 000 runs in May , traditionally the first month of the English cricket season . This sequence included another effective performance against Lancashire , regarded by some observers as one of the best innings ever played . He scored 99 in the first innings and 187 in the second to ensure the match was drawn . He again hooked McDonald effectively , at one point hitting five consecutive fours . Hammond played in the prestigious Gentlemen v Players match at Lord 's for the first time , although he neither batted nor bowled , as well as two Test trials . Coming close to scoring 1 @,@ 000 runs in June as well , he finished the season with 2 @,@ 969 runs , including 12 centuries . His average of 69 @.@ 04 was the fifth highest in first @-@ class cricket . He won selection for the M.C.C. team that would tour South Africa in the winter and the accolade of being named one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year . 
