 Hammond toured South Africa in the winter of 1930 – 31 , in a weak M.C.C. side without some of the best English players . The tourists were short of opening batsmen , frequently forcing Hammond into the role . Although successful , he brought a more wary approach than usual to his unaccustomed position . In all first @-@ class cricket , he scored 1 @,@ 045 runs ( average 61 @.@ 47 ) . In the five @-@ Test series , which South Africa won 1 – 0 , he scored 517 runs ( average 64 @.@ 62 ) , passing fifty five times in nine innings . A very cautious approach batting at number three saw Hammond score 49 and 63 in the first Test . Opening the batting in the second Test , he scored two fifties to save the game ; he also kept wicket for a time following an injury to the regular wicketkeeper . Hammond continued to open in the third Test , playing more aggressively for 136 not out , before returning to number three and making 75 in the fourth Test . In the final Test , he opened both the batting and the bowling . 
