 In the winter of 1928 – 29 , Hammond toured Australia with the M.C.C. The side was a strong one which overpowered Australia , winning the five @-@ match series 4 – 1 . Hammond was remarkably successful in his first campaign for The Ashes . Wisden described his batting as a " series of triumphs " . He scored 779 runs in five consecutive Test innings , totalling 905 runs at an average of 113 @.@ 12 in the series , a record passed only by Don Bradman since . In all first @-@ class matches , he scored 1 @,@ 553 runs ( average 91 @.@ 35 ) . However , except for one inspired spell in the final Test , in which he bowled the first three batsmen , Wisden described his bowling as disappointing . He began the tour with a century and a double century before the Test series . He scored 251 in a seven @-@ hour innings in the second Test . This was his maiden Test century and the second highest Test score between England and Australia . In the next Test , Hammond scored 200 against an accurate attack , again taking around seven hours . In the fourth Test he scored 119 not out and then 177 , in what Wisden judged his best innings of the tour due to his mastery of the bowlers and the difficult match situation when he came in to bat . Hammond had altered his usual batting style , playing more carefully and avoiding risk as runs were certain to come in the easy Australian batting conditions if a batsman did not get out . He eliminated the hook shot entirely from his repertoire and rarely played the cut shot . Unless the bowler bowled a bad ball , he limited his scoring between extra cover and midwicket , as the Australians unsuccessfully tried to block his shots in that area . Wisden stated that , even with his more cautious play , his batting on tour had shown skill and beauty . 
