Neil Marks’s “hole-in the-heart” issues back in 1959, was big news in Australia.

That the new "young Bradman" from the previous season - after 7 innings for NSW he was averaging 98 - would be flying to the famed Mayo Clinic in America for an operation, drew a widespread, collective, outpouring of concern - including from me as a kid growing up in the (then) country town of Gosford.

So too did the news that the operation was a success, but that first class cricket for Neil, let alone playing for Australia, was out of the question.

The year before, In early December 1958 in Brisbane, a new-look Australian team was facing off against Ashes' holder England - and. cricket was dominating the air-waves. Australia had a new young captain in Richie Benaud and Australia’s newest sporting superstar Norm O’Neill was making his test debut.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/531/john-rogers/blog/1962/rip-neil-marks-unbowlable