Greatest Cricket Moments

Hammond's 240 at Lord's — Captain's Innings vs Australia, 1938

1938-06-26England v Australia2nd Ashes Test, England v Australia, Lord's2 min readSeverity: Serious

Summary

Captaining England in his first Ashes home Test in charge, Wally Hammond made 240 at Lord's in June 1938 — at the time the highest score by an England captain against Australia and an innings widely rated alongside his 336* at Auckland and his 251 at Sydney as the finest of his career.

Background

Hammond had become an amateur in November 1937 and was appointed England captain for the 1938 series. The Lord's Test was his first home Ashes Test as captain.

What Happened

Australia, set 422 to bat last, drew with eight wickets down. The shape of the match was Hammond's. England, batting first, were 31 for 3 against McCormick when their captain came in. He stayed for six hours, hitting 32 fours, driving McCabe and O'Reilly through extra cover with the precision that defined his style.

Wisden's report described the cover-driving as 'almost mathematical' and the off-side placement as such that Australia repeatedly had to bring the ball back through the field. Hammond reached his hundred before tea on the second day, his 200 before lunch on the third, and was eventually caught at deep mid-off for 240, made out of 494 in 367 minutes.

England declared at 494; Bradman's 102 not out saved Australia from following on, and Bill Brown's 206* in the second innings carried Australia to safety. The match was drawn but the personal duel — Hammond 240, Bradman 102* — defined the series.

Key Moments

1

England 31-3 against McCormick; Hammond in.

2

Hundred before tea on day two; 200 before lunch on day three.

3

Out 240, c Fingleton b McCormick, 367 min, 32 fours.

4

England declare 494; Australia follow-on saved by Bradman 102*.

5

Brown's 206* second innings draws the match.

Timeline

24 Jun 1938

Australia tour to Lord's for second Test.

24 Jun

Hammond in at 31-3 v McCormick.

25 Jun

100 before tea.

26 Jun

200 before lunch; out 240.

28 Jun

Match drawn after Brown 206*.

Notable Quotes

“He drove with a precision that was almost mathematical.”

— Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, 1939

Aftermath

England drew the series 1-1, retaining the Ashes only because Australia held them. Hammond's captaincy continued through the war years symbolically and resumed, less successfully, in 1946-47.

⚖️ The Verdict

The performance that, with Bradman's twin, set the 1938 series as a stand-off between cricket's two finest batsmen.

Legacy & Impact

The Lord's 240 is among the most quoted innings of the inter-war period and the canonical Hammond performance — orthodox, unhurried, executed by a player whose first-class average against Australia at home topped 70.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was 240 a record for an England captain v Australia?▾
Yes, at the time — Hutton's 364 later that summer was as opener, not captain.
Did England win the Test?▾
No — drawn. Bradman's 102* and Brown's 206* saved Australia.
Where does the innings rank in Hammond's career?▾
Generally with his 336* at Auckland and his 251 at Sydney as his three signature scores.

Tags

#wally-hammond#ashes#1938#lords#england#australia#double-century

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