 Balanced and still at the crease , Hammond was known for the power and beauty of his driving through the off side , although he could play any shot . A very attacking player early in his career , he later became more defensive , playing more frequently off the back foot and abandoning the hook shot as too risky . He was particularly effective on difficult wickets , scoring runs where others struggled to survive . Many of his contemporaries believed that he was the finest off @-@ side player in the history of cricket . In the words of Patrick Murphy , fellow players considered him " on a different plane — majestic , assured , poised , a devastating amalgam of the physical and mental attributes that make up a great batsman . " County bowlers who played against him considered it an achievement merely to prevent him scoring runs . 
