 As the 1936 season began , Hammond remained weak from the recent removal of his tonsils . Returning to cricket too soon , he was in poor form ; he took a longer rest , which caused him to miss the first of three Tests against India . It was July before he felt fully well . In all first @-@ class cricket that season , Hammond scored 2 @,@ 107 runs , averaging 56 @.@ 94 , and took 41 wickets . In county cricket , Gloucestershire appointed a new captain , Dallas Page . Hammond had been offered the joint captaincy with Bev Lyon , conditional on his becoming assistant secretary at the club to enable him to play as an amateur , but declined for financial reasons . Hammond returned to the England side for the second Test , making 167 , his first century in 28 innings , scoring quickly throughout . He was praised by Wisden for his control . Hammond continued to score heavily in the third Test , making 217 after being dropped twice early on . His highest score came in the last county match of the season , at Gloucestershire , which was Tom Goddard 's benefit match . A difficult pitch meant that wickets tumbled on the first day , prompting fears of an early finish which would possibly lose money for Goddard . Hammond batted all of the second day , ensuring the match lasted the full three days , to score 317 out of a total of 485 . 
