The 1934 Australian Test Cricket Team with the Australian Davis Cup Team (in white) en-route to England. A gaunt and apparently distracted Bradman is shielding his face seated in the deck chair, front-right.

In 1934 Bradman joined the Australian team for his second tour to England. He had been feeling unwell in the lead-up to the series but he and his doctors couldn’t define what was ailing him. Throughout the tour he suffered further ill-health and generally performed under his normal high standards. However in the Fourth Test at Headingley he hit a massive score of 304 runs followed by 244 in the 5th Test at The Oval.

Just before the team departed England he was struck down with extreme stomach cramps and it was decided to operate on him forthwith. His surgeon, the Australian Sir Douglas Shields, found an enlarged, ruptured and septic appendix which was immediately removed. Over the next few days, without recourse to penicillin, Bradman hovered very close to death. The King of England asked to be kept informed of his condition. Jessie Bradman commenced a mercy 'dash' of weeks of travel by ship from Australia and his supporters everywhere held their collective breath. Gradually his condition improved and by the time his wife arrived in England he was able to be released from hospital.

Bradman remained in England re-couperating for some months before returning to Australia and did not play a Test innings for over two years.