 Hammond proved to be aloof and distant and at 43 was a generation older than the rest of his team, who held in him awe.Amateur captains used to readily consult their senior professional, but Hammond the ex-pro rarely sought anybody's advice, and "sphinx-like marched from slip at one end to slip at the other, apparently, as Plum Warner wrote of him 'just letting the game go on'".He ordered his batsmen to stay in their crease and not attack the bowling and had his best bowlers running around the outfield between overs.