 In the Tests his highest Test score was only 37 and simply failed to concentrate as he used to; "When I consider the hours I have spent against men like Grimmett and O'Reilly, never taking the slightest chance and patiently waiting for the loose ball to come along, I cannot understand why in 1946 I tried to hit spin bowlers off their length before I had been at the wicket ten minutes".Although averse to public speaking Hammond was very popular with the Australian public and was cheered whenever he appeared.One newspaper told its readers "See him while you can.