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Short filmTranscript
00:01Three years ago, sporting legend Freddie Flintoff
00:04set out to prove that cricket wasn't just for the elite.
00:07It's who, isn't it?
00:09By creating a team like no other in his hometown of Preston.
00:12What has he got us wearing?
00:14Well, that's a shot, isn't it?
00:15Over the course of a turbulent season...
00:17Seriously, I'm getting off of you.
00:19...and an overseas cricket tour to India...
00:21We're all going to find out something about ourselves, me included.
00:24Freddie changed the lives of his unlikely team.
00:27You can do this, all right? Yeah. We're all here for you.
00:29...and sparked a nationwide debate.
00:31Cricket does have the power to bring people together from all communities
00:35and give them fantastic opportunities, as shown so powerfully
00:39by Andrew Flintoff's recent documentary.
00:43Inspired by the success of the lads from Preston...
00:46Are you messing?
00:47Freddie now wants to see if he can expand the project...
00:50That's a shot.
00:51...and begin a Field of Dreams Cricket League...
00:53That's safe, yeah.
00:54You're going to get a sunshine out of your depth.
00:56...with the hope of reaching even more kids across the UK.
00:59No, no, no!
01:00Not one bit of that, it's funny.
01:01...but can rolling out the experiment leave a lasting legacy...
01:04...Ciapione!
01:05...Ciapione!
01:06...Ciapione!
01:07Three, two, one!
01:08...or will taking on so many new teams prove a step too far?
01:12Oh, no, no, no. God.
01:13Hey, you're the stupid cow.
01:15I've got to give them some room.
01:16Great shot. I don't want to break your kneecap.
01:19Well, I get the feeling if you give them an inch, I'll take them all this long.
01:33Six months since their return from India...
01:35...I see you've turned up.
01:37Even Sean's here.
01:38Hi, lads!
01:39...Freddy's back in Preston to see his unlikely cricket team.
01:42Oh, bring it in, bring it in.
01:44You all right?
01:45Yes, Sean.
01:46Good to see you.
01:47Good to see you.
01:48There we are, Sean.
01:49What's been happening?
01:50Work.
01:51Work, still?
01:52Any sick days, Sean?
01:53I don't have a choice of living to see a mouse as a guy I work with.
01:56It's lovely being back, isn't it?
01:58You've got a happy group of lads.
02:00Come on then, Dylan, tell us.
02:01Just got myself a new job, saving for a mortgage.
02:04Love life?
02:05There's a couple on the scene, but...
02:08Seeing them from where they started to where they're at now
02:12makes you think, why can't we do this again?
02:15And try and give other kids the opportunities that these lads have had.
02:18With an ambitious plan to expand his field of dreams,
02:21Freddie wants to test out his idea on the Preston lads.
02:26When we finished the project here,
02:28I never thought I'd continue.
02:30It was going to be a one-off,
02:31but the success of it and how it's gone,
02:34I want to do it again.
02:35On a bigger scale,
02:37with two or three different places, all at the same time.
02:40But having done it once before,
02:41it's given me a chance to do more and more and more,
02:43so you lads are pioneers, aren't you? Trailblazers.
02:46One word.
02:47Good luck.
02:48That's two.
02:49That's two.
02:50Right, come on, let's play cricket.
02:55Come on.
02:57Oh, hey!
02:59Oh, yeah, sure, he's swinging then.
03:01I think he might have bitten off more than he can chew in a way.
03:04Who's batting? Who's getting pads on to?
03:06Yeah, it'll be stressful, but it's Fred, he can do anything.
03:09He still can't play cricket.
03:12But the best thing is, they're still coming, aren't they?
03:15Yeah.
03:16It's had such a big impact on all of us,
03:18like, individually just as people, not just as cricket players,
03:21and I think he wants to give that opportunity to others.
03:24Every single one of us will be more than happy to help.
03:29It's a great idea.
03:30Are you thinking just lads or maybe we should do a girls' team?
03:34Ten female Sean's?
03:36No, I don't think there are ten female Sean's in the world.
03:40We've got to find a couple of boys' teams as well,
03:42or some boys' teams.
03:43Yeah.
03:44Anyone in particular?
03:45The one of the players I'm thinking is Liverpool.
03:48There's been no real scousers come through and played for England.
03:51I'd like to explore why.
03:52Not try and provide them, but just see how popular cricket is
03:55in that area.
03:56But if you prove we can do it on some more teams,
03:58then we can think about doing it on a grander scale.
04:01Famous last words.
04:03I've had a few of them.
04:04Yes, Faisal!
04:07The very essence of this is helping the kids
04:10that we have come in contact with.
04:12Giving them confidence.
04:14Trying something new.
04:15You know, walking to a cricket club for the first time
04:17is quite daunting.
04:18So it was a job interview.
04:19You know, so we're trying to give them the coping mechanisms
04:21for what's going to happen in life later on down the line.
04:24Cricket's just the start of it.
04:26It's what happens after.
04:27That's it!
04:28Yes, Harrison!
04:29Go on!
04:33Freddie's starting the search for his next cricket team
04:3535 miles south of Preston in Liverpool.
04:42Just north of the city centre, Bootle Cricket Club
04:44is surrounded by housing estates and plenty of kids.
04:47But it's been attracting teenagers for the wrong reasons.
04:53They've wrecked the scoreboard.
04:55That's trashed.
04:56That scoreboard's gone.
04:57And then they've set fire to do.
04:59Oh, my God.
05:00Where did they get a bar chair from?
05:02Freddie's keen to meet chair of the club, Jackie,
05:05to find out why.
05:09Jackie, hi.
05:10Hello.
05:12Tell me about Bootle.
05:13I've heard things, but not from anybody who's on the ground.
05:16OK, so from a deprived area in the country,
05:19we are in the top 5%.
05:22There's a lot of kids who drop out of school.
05:24There is a big gang culture here.
05:26Guns, knife crime.
05:28That is that bad?
05:29We're a little oasis in the middle of a really, really tough area.
05:33What about vandalism around the place?
05:36People get in.
05:37The railings are bust in certain areas.
05:39The dressing rooms are being burnt down twice.
05:41Is this still a place where kids can come,
05:43hang out, play cricket?
05:45Yeah, it is for the younger ones,
05:46but the second they hit senior school, you know, not cool.
05:50I think it's a different one here,
05:52because everything's here you need.
05:54It's engaging, which is the hard bit.
05:58It's quite a big job, isn't it?
06:00Yeah.
06:01Shall I take you in the car for a little tour of this area?
06:04A little drive-round?
06:05A little drive-round, not a drive-by.
06:12What do people do for work around here, then?
06:14A lot of employment.
06:15A lot of people on benefits.
06:16Yeah.
06:17There's not many places derelicts on there.
06:19Yeah.
06:20Derelicts and all, like, just left.
06:23You can just imagine what's going on in them places.
06:25Yeah.
06:26One thing I haven't noticed is anything for kids to do.
06:28No?
06:29There's nothing.
06:30Like a park or open grounds or just...
06:32There's no investment for kids.
06:35Wow.
06:36Doing it in Preston was one thing.
06:38An area I knew, my hometown.
06:41This is different.
06:42I'm not talking myself out of it here, but I think the realisation of what the second
06:47on here is starting to sink in.
06:48It goes beyond cricket, doesn't it?
06:49You know, you're asking us to sort out some of the biggest problems that society are facing.
06:54Not just trying to hit a cricket ball or catch a ball.
06:57So, already alarm bells are ringing to what we're faced with.
07:02So, like, them kids are...
07:04They probably don't know any different, do they?
07:06No.
07:07That's just what they do.
07:08That's what they do.
07:09They just walk out, hang out.
07:10Why do they think they don't come to the club?
07:12They're not looking for it.
07:14So, if you don't go looking for it, they don't know it's there.
07:18It's attracting people from the surrounding areas.
07:21Engaging teenagers who are walking the streets who aren't going to school.
07:24We're getting involved in drugs and crime and gangs.
07:28It's going into the complete unknown, in some ways.
07:31But it's something which...
07:33I think we have to have a go at doing.
07:38Help! Look out of your horse!
07:48Having found a club desperate for teenage players...
07:51I'm here to see Jason and John Paul.
07:53I've done it.
07:54I've done it.
07:55Freddie wants to find out if there's any interest in cricket
07:57from kids in the area.
08:02Impact Pupil Referral Unit caters for kids
08:04who've been excluded from local schools.
08:09So, come in.
08:10Do you want to introduce myself here?
08:11Introduce yourself.
08:12Tell them why you're here.
08:13Hiya.
08:14My name's Fred.
08:15I'm Flintoff.
08:16And a couple of years ago, I put a team together of kids to play cricket
08:20in my hometown of Preston who wouldn't necessarily forget the opportunity to play.
08:24And through that, we've been touring India to play cricket.
08:28They're back in education.
08:29They're getting jobs.
08:30They're doing all types of different things.
08:31So, today, I want to find out from you guys.
08:34People who are interested in cricket, if they fancy doing it, fancy giving it a go,
08:37and find a little bit more about yourselves.
08:44Anybody know any famous cricketers?
08:46No.
08:47No?
08:48No.
08:49Not one?
08:51Does anyone know who Freddie is?
08:53No.
08:54Anyone see them on the telly?
08:55No.
08:58I used to play cricket.
08:59I played for Lancashire, played for England, and then, in recent years,
09:02did a little bit of TV work.
09:04Some TV shows.
09:05Probably never heard of League of the Roll and Top Gear.
09:07And various things.
09:11I felt like I was trying to get blood from a stall.
09:13I wasn't sure what to introduce myself as.
09:16I said I played cricket.
09:17And then I thought, League of the Roll, they won't know that.
09:20Top Gear card, nothing.
09:22And they're looking at me and saying, who is this fellow in our class?
09:25And I just wanted to get out there as quick as I could.
09:27Probably more importantly, does anyone know what cricket is?
09:30Anyone seen cricket on the telly?
09:32Well, we're not stupid, are we?
09:34We're not stupid.
09:35What does everybody think when I mention cricket?
09:37What's your first thoughts?
09:38Got to have money to play it.
09:40Be dressed up weird.
09:41Got to have a, like, granny, granny girl in there.
09:44It's just changed a little bit.
09:45You know what I mean?
09:46What do the kids do round here after school?
09:50Nothing.
09:51Lazy.
09:52You can be honest.
09:54Be honest?
09:55Be honest.
09:56Be honest.
09:57Goes out and smokes weed.
09:58What is that problem round here, weed?
09:59It's just everywhere.
10:00It is literally everywhere, yeah.
10:02So is that what most young people do?
10:05Yeah.
10:06Would you say some of yous are those kids?
10:09Nah, I'm not.
10:10I'm a good person.
10:11Nah.
10:12Say if I put on something where I wanted lads and girls to come and try,
10:16would you be up for that?
10:17Come and have a go, see if you like it, see if you want to take it from there?
10:20Because one of the things I'm trying to decide is if I'm wasting my time.
10:23If it is, then...
10:24I'll get into it.
10:25All right.
10:26Nothing else to do.
10:27Well, that's the thing.
10:28Save just sitting in bed.
10:30All right then.
10:31Thank you so much.
10:32I'll leave you to it.
10:34It's just changing minds, isn't it?
10:37It's showing them that there's something else out there that you can do.
10:41Not just smoke weed.
10:43Ride around on your bike, hang out around the shop.
10:45There's other things out there.
10:46And I appreciate it.
10:47It's a tough sell.
10:48And we've been in this position before, haven't we?
10:50You know, with kids who don't want to do it.
10:53But hopefully these ones do.
10:55Hoping he's got the makings of a new team in Liverpool, Freddie's continuing his search
11:03to create a league of thriving clubs across the North West.
11:08He's heading 50 miles north to Blackpool, a town he knows from his childhood and home
11:13to South Shore Cricket Club.
11:15I spent so much time in Blackpool.
11:17You know, as a kid, it was like days out.
11:22And the Pleasure Beach, the tower, the front, did it all as a kid.
11:26And, you know, the cricket clubs around here at one time were thriving.
11:30And all in this area, it was like a hotbed of cricket.
11:33But looking at this club from the signs of it, this hasn't had too much investment.
11:37Not too much tender love and caring either.
11:39So, it'd be interesting to see where it's at now.
11:44Hiya. Hiya. Hiya.
11:45Hiya. Fred. Darren.
11:46Hiya, Darren. You all right? Peter.
11:48Hi, Peter. Hiya, Fred.
11:49It's like a trip down memory. I end this. I've heard on you a couple of times.
11:52It's not changed much, has it?
11:53It hasn't changed much.
11:54You know what I mean? No.
11:55How many teams you got?
11:56One on a Saturday, one on a Sunday.
11:58Just one? Yeah.
11:59Have you got any kids teams? No.
12:01No. That's our biggest problem.
12:03How about girls?
12:04It's...
12:05Can't get lads, never mind girls. We can't get lads.
12:07So, if you don't get players, what do you reckon the future of the club is?
12:11There isn't one.
12:12It's that... It's that bad.
12:14The upshot is no kids, no club, really.
12:17Yeah. Yeah, absolutely.
12:19As it stands, they've got one team on there.
12:22There's no junior teams, there's no girls teams.
12:24And firstly, I think we've got to find the reasons for that.
12:27You know, is there an appetite for it? Is it something we could do round here?
12:31Or is that because nobody's interested in cricket? Or had the chance to play?
12:40Worried young people in the area might not be up for trying cricket,
12:44Freddie's visiting a youth centre.
12:46Hiya. I'm Fred.
12:47Nice to meet you.
12:48To meet some kids from the local area.
12:50Yeah. So, are you from Top Gear?
12:53I used to be. Yeah.
12:54I did Top Gear for a while when this happened.
12:56Oh, no. So, I've gone back to cricket. It's a bit safer.
12:59Why do you want to, like, teach cricket?
13:02Why?
13:03Yeah.
13:04Because I was a cricketer, so I played for England.
13:06Oh, did you?
13:07Yeah.
13:08Oh, I didn't know that.
13:09I was so shocked.
13:10I didn't know that.
13:11I know, yeah. Who would have thought?
13:13I captured them for a bit.
13:14So, since I was a kid, I played cricket.
13:16Yeah.
13:17You know, since I was about six and then joined Lancashire when I was nine.
13:20Then retired when I was 31.
13:22Oh, OK.
13:23Then started doing TV after it.
13:24So, with what happened with Top Gear when I had the crash,
13:27brought me back to cricket.
13:29I absolutely love it.
13:30You love it, yeah.
13:31So, I want to show everyone.
13:33I want everyone to have a chance of playing.
13:34Yeah, I don't really know how to play cricket.
13:36Have you watched it on television?
13:38No.
13:39No?
13:40I don't really watch it on television.
13:41I only sit there and watch football on the TV.
13:42Football, you're not a Blackpool fan, are you?
13:44Yeah.
13:45You're a Blackpool fan?
13:46Have you got a kit on?
13:47Yeah.
13:48Oh, to be fair...
13:49Shouldn't be talking, I'm a Preston fan.
13:50To be fair, it is my school uniform.
13:52We're going.
13:53He's coming in.
13:54How are you, Fred?
13:55Hello, I'm Sarah.
13:56Nice to meet you.
13:57How are you?
13:59With over 40% of kids in the local area living below the breadline,
14:02the Boathouse Youth Club provides a safe place for them to go after school.
14:07This is our youth centre.
14:09We work with young people from age five right up to 25 now,
14:12and they're just free to just come and socialise with each other
14:15and engage with positive adults, really.
14:17If they weren't in here, where would they be?
14:19I mean, you're probably best off asking the young people themselves, really.
14:22Oh, I do, yeah?
14:23I spoke to Molly.
14:24Molly?
14:25Yeah, you could speak to Maddie.
14:26I'm Fred, how are you?
14:27You all right?
14:28Nice to meet you.
14:29Hi, Madison.
14:30Madison?
14:31Yeah?
14:32I don't know if you know anything about what I'm trying to do.
14:33I'm just trying to find kids who'd be interested in playing cricket
14:36on Blackpool.
14:37I've never played cricket in my life, so it's just...
14:39Would you fancy trying it?
14:40Yeah.
14:41100%.
14:42I can't wait to see what it's all about.
14:43Do you play any sport?
14:44I'm more like a netball kind of girl.
14:46Oh, really? What position?
14:47Goal attack.
14:48Goal attack.
14:49Oh, you're the glory seekers going on the goals, aren't you?
14:50Yeah, yeah.
14:51I love being main character.
14:52You'd be a trailblazer, you'd be a pioneer.
14:54You'd be showing the way, you know?
14:55I'd be like, follow me.
14:57That's exactly what we want.
14:59I've got one question for you.
15:00Go on.
15:01How was it after your accident?
15:02How hard was it to, like, leave your house again?
15:04It was, what, 18 months ago?
15:06And, you know, I've suffered with things like depression in the past before,
15:10but this time was different.
15:11Yeah.
15:12I didn't know if I had it in me to carry on.
15:14Not that I wanted to die or anything like that.
15:16Yeah.
15:17I just didn't know if I had it in me.
15:18Yeah.
15:19And that took a while.
15:20The one thing I think, I'm getting quite deep here,
15:23but the one thing you just want to be is happy in yourself.
15:25Yeah.
15:26And try and be accepting of yourself of what you are.
15:29And it took me a long time to be like that,
15:31and then the crash put me back again.
15:32Yeah.
15:33And now it's like finding myself or finding the person I want to be.
15:38Thank you for that.
15:39Right.
15:40How brilliant you are.
15:42Say you are.
15:43Wow, I'm going to go to the corner and have a cry.
15:48It was nice to meet some teenagers who wanted to ask questions.
15:52And that's not happened with the boys so far.
15:55So, I think we can do a girls team.
15:57Even though I know nothing about girls cricket.
16:00I think it will come up and what a challenge it is.
16:02But I think I'm just excited by what's just happened.
16:05In an attempt to recruit players for their new boys team,
16:14back in Liverpool, Kyle's in charge,
16:17holding a tryout session at the local park.
16:19Phil, you all right?
16:20Good to see you.
16:21Drafted in to help out is Stephen Croft,
16:25an ex-Lancashire team mate.
16:27And Phil, one of the local coaches at Bootle Cricket Club.
16:30Yeah, so I think the idea tonight is obviously Fred's met some of these kids already.
16:34We're just not entirely sure how many are going to come.
16:45I think these three lads could be here.
16:48Or maybe they're not.
16:50Are they?
16:51We'll take them if not.
16:53It looks like they like football anyway.
16:56Three of the boys that Freddie met at the pupil referral unit have turned up.
17:00Joe, Connor and Stevie.
17:03Looking forward to a bit of cricket?
17:05Yeah.
17:06Have you picked up a bat before?
17:07Not for the good reasons.
17:10When you go to Peru, people think they're just
17:14the f***ers who've been kicked out of mainstream because they're messing about every day and just being a little rat, really.
17:19But they're just there because problems they've had.
17:22Or, like, some people need more help, don't they, and just can't get it.
17:25Have you got any mates who play cricket?
17:27Freddie Flintoff.
17:28Freddie Flintoff.
17:29He was quite good at cricket.
17:30Yeah.
17:31When I was in mainstream school, there was loads of exclusions and, like, isolations and all that.
17:36Like, anything to do with behaviour issues.
17:38I was in that trouble.
17:40But then one day they would just...
17:42I think they just had enough, to be fair, and they ended up just saying,
17:45that's it.
17:46They just permanently excluded me.
17:47What have you all been doing today?
17:49Right.
17:50Definitely done the wrong thing a few times because there's not many places where kids can go
17:56and, like, get involved in a team or, like, make friends.
17:59So I think it is quite easy to fall into the wrong crowd and start doing the wrong thing.
18:03Pick a bat up.
18:05Nah, you couldn't...
18:06You lefty?
18:07Yeah.
18:08You couldn't hit no-one after you.
18:09Like this, yeah?
18:10Yeah.
18:11Yeah, can I come on, lad?
18:12I reckon I can wrap it round your neck.
18:13I'll feel safe now, boys.
18:15Right, let's save that chat for the balls.
18:17Lads, you just want to come in, introduce yourselves.
18:19It's not long before word has spread of the chance to play a new sport in the local area.
18:24We're here to have a good time, so if you're not sure, no such thing is a stupid question, so...
18:28What way does the bat face?
18:30So you want to hit the flat part.
18:32You want to get in a nice, powerful position.
18:34Proper get into it.
18:36All right, shall we get going, then?
18:39Who's going first?
18:40You're going to show them how it's done?
18:43Get out!
18:44Great start!
18:45You're shit!
18:46Go on!
18:47You're batting!
18:48Okay, spread out, lad.
18:49You can stand on the grass, I ain't stand.
18:51A bad dog poo, lad.
18:53Oh!
18:54That was close.
18:57Hey, catch that!
18:58That was a catch.
18:59You need to see a little dive and roll ting.
19:01There's loads of big personalities within the people here, some of them could clash.
19:06But right now, I think everyone's just enjoying what they're doing.
19:09Would you play cricket at school?
19:11No.
19:12No.
19:13I didn't really get on in school.
19:14So I get homeschooled.
19:16What happened at school?
19:17Just didn't enjoy it?
19:18I just didn't like to teach us.
19:20So your mum homeschools you now?
19:21Yeah.
19:22That's good.
19:23It is hard for that, but I appreciate what she does.
19:24Oh, good.
19:25Come at them boys.
19:26Come at.
19:27Oh, he's going to be good at this.
19:29Jackie's going to be good.
19:30I mean, he's talked it up, hasn't he?
19:31He's talked to a good guy.
19:32Shot!
19:33Dink!
19:34Shuck them apples!
19:36Hey!
19:37You're getting smoked everywhere!
19:39Yeah!
19:40Four per four, all day cricket would be boring.
19:43You just stood like on the telly.
19:44It just looks like some people just stood there for hours on end, not doing anything.
19:48Then when you actually come out and start playing it, it's enjoyable.
19:51You get to have a laugh with people.
19:53Oh, six!
19:55I tell you what, he's actually really good.
19:57Never played cricket.
19:58I don't want to break your kneecap.
20:00Come on, we're meant to be a team, encouragement.
20:02Tell him how good he is.
20:03Nah, he doesn't need encouragement when he's beating me.
20:04Nah.
20:05Tell him how good he is.
20:06Nah.
20:07Do you know you're allowed to, like, give banter to each player?
20:09Do you know that?
20:10So, you're allowed...
20:11Nah, see, when we talk about banter, how far are we allowed to go?
20:16Can I just, like, walk around and just call you a lanky water trucker?
20:19You're a lanky.
20:20No, not tall, just lanky.
20:22Athletic?
20:23Nah, just lanky.
20:24Athletic?
20:25Nah.
20:26Great shot!
20:27That's a four, that's not a six.
20:30Ryan's a character.
20:32Absolute character.
20:33He's got so much energy.
20:35But do you know what?
20:36Considering he said he's never played cricket, he's actually really good.
20:39Keep G-ing the team up.
20:40You ever thought maybe you're just shit?
20:43So far, we've got a really good bunch of lads.
20:46Like, considering a lot of them have not met each other before,
20:49they're getting on really well.
20:50You know, that's what we want to see.
20:52So, lads, firstly, I just want to say a massive thank you
20:56for everyone coming tonight.
20:58Secondly, if we put another cricket session on for you, would you come?
21:02Yeah.
21:03Definitely.
21:04Think about it.
21:07Would you tell your mates to come?
21:09Daltie Woodley.
21:10You don't reckon?
21:11Nah.
21:12Why?
21:13They're all potheads.
21:14Could you sell it to them?
21:15The pot?
21:16No, the game.
21:19Highlighting.
21:20The game.
21:21Any questions about cricket tonight?
21:22Anything?
21:23What's the pay?
21:24Are we getting paid heavy, or what?
21:25Yeah, yeah.
21:26So, you know, like, how much Haaland gets in Foden?
21:28We're just, like, just above that.
21:33Quietly, I think they've really enjoyed it.
21:35You know, they're too tough and cool to admit it.
21:38They're, like, playing cricket.
21:40But tonight's been an introduction to the game.
21:42They've enjoyed it.
21:43We've used a really softball.
21:44So, I'm not sure they know how hard a real cricket ball is yet.
21:47So, that'll be, that'll be the next step for them.
21:50But, you know, it's exciting at the same time.
21:5650 miles north, in Blackpool, at South Shore Cricket Club,
22:00Freddie's holding tryouts for his first ever girls team.
22:04Today it's, like, new territory for me.
22:06It's a girls team.
22:07I've never, never coached a girls team before.
22:10I do stuff for the boys.
22:12And whether rightly or wrong, I was expecting it to be very similar
22:16or almost the same.
22:17Bootsuit and baby, you're driving me crazy.
22:20My ascension from a western, my dance for a date.
22:24I'm starting to think it might not be.
22:25Five, six, seven, eight.
22:27Me and Kyle, we need some help.
22:29No, seriously, we do.
22:31Freddie's asked Kate Cross, former England captain, to help out.
22:36I have never worked with girls.
22:40So, you wrote me in?
22:41Yeah.
22:42To be fair, it wasn't normal for girls to play cricket when I was young
22:45because I was the only girl playing in the boys' team.
22:47So, my main thing that I've always banged the door about
22:50is that you just want to give these girls the chance.
22:52Yeah.
22:53And they might love cricket, they might hate it,
22:54but I just think giving them the chance and the opportunity
22:57to give it a go is step number one and then go from there.
23:00Yeah, come round, girls, come.
23:03Is that right, girls?
23:04Ladies, girls.
23:05Don't overthink it.
23:06Don't overthink it.
23:07I am overthink it.
23:08Oh, the grass is wet.
23:10How are you, I'm Fred?
23:11I'm excited.
23:12Yeah, be nice to meet you, I'm Fred.
23:13How are you all right?
23:14How are you all right?
23:15I'm Fred.
23:16I see why my mum fancies Freddie.
23:19Why?
23:20Right, girls, come over here.
23:22Right, let's do ten catches.
23:24One, two.
23:25One, two.
23:26Come on, Mo.
23:27I'm so sorry.
23:28Two hands, two hands.
23:29No, I don't need two hands.
23:31Oh, you don't need two hands, right.
23:32No, I only use one.
23:33What if I break my nails?
23:36Woo!
23:37Ah!
23:38Yeah, get a sunshine out of your depth.
23:41You sit as hard as you can.
23:43Some anger in that, Mo.
23:45Kaboom!
23:46She's trying to find things in common.
23:47Like, that's the habit.
23:48Right, we were just chatting about this and then...
23:51You've got an idea of what they're going to say.
23:53What are the girls?
23:55No.
23:56How are we getting on?
23:58Anybody caught any?
23:59I'm scared for my nails.
24:01Oh, is that what you're worried about, your nails?
24:02No!
24:03So they're your nails?
24:04Are they false nails?
24:05That's a question I never thought I'd ask anyone.
24:08Well, why should I let you in on my secrets?
24:10Before we just met.
24:11We were all learning, aren't we?
24:12We were learning off each other.
24:13I'm trying to teach you cricket.
24:14You can help me with my nails.
24:15They're shockers.
24:16Look at the state of them.
24:17Oh, good lord.
24:18You need a Manny Paddy.
24:19A Manny what?
24:20A Manny Paddy.
24:21A Manny Paddy.
24:22A Manny Paddy.
24:23A Manny Paddy.
24:24Who's bowled before?
24:25Left arm pointing at the target.
24:27Out of the 13 girls who have turned up for the tryouts, the majority have never played cricket before.
24:33Try not to hit those wickets at that end.
24:36Come on, Matilda.
24:37I don't want to show myself up now.
24:39But amongst the chaos of the first timers, Freddie's spotted one girl who clearly has some experience.
24:45A 15-year-old, Matilda.
24:48Have you played cricket before?
24:49Yeah.
24:50Yeah?
24:51Where did you play?
24:52Fleetwood.
24:53We played Fleetwood?
24:54Yeah.
24:55It's a boys team, but I'm the only girl.
24:56How's that?
24:57It's really hard, especially at 15, because like, in partner work, no one wants to be paired with the girl.
25:04Really?
25:05And it's kind of, like, hard with a big group of boys to try and include yourself.
25:09Yeah.
25:10Like, and try and fit in.
25:12Girls my age don't really play cricket.
25:14It does make me feel a bit lonely in the sport, because when you, like, look into someone to reason with on game night,
25:21it's a lot harder to get that bond with boys and connect with them in that way.
25:26It always makes me question whether I should be there, because it's like, well, if I'm the only one, do I really belong here?
25:33It's supposed to be alright then, playing with girls.
25:35I've not seen this many girls who play cricket in one place ever.
25:38Over-arm throw.
25:39Throw it as hard as you want.
25:40Matilda, as she was saying, she'd been trying out to play in the girls' team.
25:45That makes you feel you're doing something right, isn't it?
25:48You know what I mean?
25:49So, she's going to have this opportunity.
25:51I think I'm going to lean on her a little bit, you know?
25:53Because she's obviously entused by cricket.
25:55She loves it.
25:56And hopefully a bit of that can rub off on the rest of the group.
25:58Watch the ball.
26:00Go on, man.
26:02I'm quite proud of myself, I did that.
26:04Bang!
26:05It gets you out of the house, doesn't it?
26:08What would you be doing if you wasn't there?
26:10Just hit it as hard as you can.
26:12Come on, Maddies.
26:14You hit it, you hit it.
26:15I'm so bad at this already.
26:17Definitely room for improvement.
26:19Do you know what I love?
26:20You all gave it a proper go.
26:21Has everyone enjoyed it tonight?
26:23Yeah.
26:24Yeah.
26:25I think it's been incredible tonight.
26:26I've seen you enjoy it and throw yourselves into it.
26:28It's all we could ever ask for.
26:29And hopefully over the next few weeks, few months,
26:31we'll get better at cricket, you'll enjoy it,
26:33you'll tell your mates about it, we can put a team together.
26:36Girls are better than boys.
26:38Do you know what?
26:39I'll give you that sum up.
26:40Seriously, I've done it with boys and they're hard work.
26:44They're a bit subdued.
26:46They don't want to embarrass themselves.
26:47You girls just throw yourselves into it.
26:48It's been so impressive.
26:49Is everyone going to come back?
26:50Yes.
26:51Yes.
26:52Yes?
26:53We're going to have some fun.
26:54Yeah.
26:55They've turned up.
26:56They've thrown themselves into it.
26:57You couldn't ask for any more.
26:58It's obvious there's a few differences in ability.
27:01You know, there's a group of girls, three or four of them
27:03who play a bit, which is perfect.
27:05And then some have never tried in their life before,
27:07but the one thing that stuck out was they just prepared to do it.
27:10I genuinely think maybe I'm getting ahead of myself.
27:14We could make this like a hub of girls' cricket in the county.
27:18These could be the ones who, you know, they light a spark
27:21for an old generation of new girl cricketers.
27:24And it's all just started, hopefully, in the past two hours at South Shore.
27:29But with two new cricket teams now up and running across the North West,
27:34dedicating his time between them is about to become an even harder challenge for Freddie.
27:40Some breaking news to start this hour.
27:42Andrew Flintoff has been appointed as head coach of the England Men's Lions.
27:47And Flintoff himself has said,
27:49I'm honoured to be part of that journey.
27:51It's been a complete U-turn or full circle for me with my career.
28:00I've started coaching with England.
28:02But the problem with that is I can't be in three places at once.
28:06So it's who can we get to work with us?
28:09So we can try and achieve what we set out to do.
28:12There's a lot of parts to this, isn't there?
28:14Especially the more we do.
28:16But we'll be all right.
28:18In Liverpool, it's training night for the prospective new team at Bootle Cricket Club.
28:28Look, toys. Toys on the walls.
28:31With Freddie away, Kyle's having to run tonight's session without him.
28:35Shit's hard and be quiet.
28:38With a group of boys, most of whom have been suspended or excluded from school.
28:43It's obviously tonight, it's too wet to do any cricket outside.
28:47Well, that's just depressing, isn't it?
28:48So I was thinking about a classroom session.
28:50Oh, **** that.
28:52No, **** that.
28:53Why?
28:54It's not happening.
28:55No.
28:56Classroom?
28:57No.
28:58Let's go in front of this whiteboard here.
29:00Oh, what is this?
29:02Assembly?
29:03So we'll do five minutes.
29:05No, we'll just give them after two minutes.
29:07Are you starting now?
29:08Yeah, go ahead and press start.
29:1016-year-old Ryan has decided to give Kyle seven minutes to teach them the rules of cricket.
29:16And the timer has already started.
29:19Does anybody know the name of any positions?
29:23Wicketkeeper.
29:24Wicketkeeper.
29:25Wicketkeeper.
29:26Oh, yes, Ryan.
29:27Batter.
29:28This one's called...
29:29That's called third man.
29:32Where's second man?
29:34Second man's...
29:35Where's his wingman at?
29:37Wingman's not on it.
29:38Can't go on a night out without your wingman.
29:40I've never been good at school.
29:44You've got 57 seconds.
29:46LAUGHTER
29:47To get put under so much pressure to do well, it's always just sitting on your shoulders,
29:53knowing that eventually you're either making everyone proud or letting everyone die.
29:58What's the one called where you miss it, hits the wickets?
30:02You're just getting yourself out.
30:03You are getting yourself out.
30:04It's just called being shit.
30:06I've been excluded from school.
30:08For behavioural reasons.
30:10If you're missing the ball and you're playing professional cricket,
30:13you're not doing something like that.
30:15Winding up teachers, skipping lessons,
30:17making the teachers' lives the worst possible,
30:20made the teacher quit.
30:22I do stupid stuff to impress, try and impress people.
30:26But if you bowled it at someone, they missed it.
30:28Ah, look at that inside of me!
30:30Get yourself a water, cos you might need it.
30:34I was only imagining there what it must be like for a teacher,
30:37you know, in their classroom.
30:39Imagine having an hour with kids like that.
30:41You know, it must be so tough.
30:43And he was...
30:44Even Ryan, I could see the stopwatch was going,
30:46and after five minutes, he'd had enough.
30:48He didn't...
30:49He just lost all interest, didn't he?
30:51One, two, one, two, test the microphone, it works.
30:55Right, let's see what they're made of here now.
30:57Where's all the bats going?
30:59Whoa!
31:00Oh, lad!
31:02No, no, no!
31:04Oi!
31:05What's going on here?
31:07Ah, lad!
31:08Just remember...
31:09No, no, no, no.
31:10Right.
31:11What happens if you hit that fire alarm?
31:14Then we all evacuate the building.
31:16No, but it's just...
31:17I know my fire alarm drills.
31:18It's just constant misbehaving.
31:20You know, there's people eating pieces of fruit around,
31:23they're drawing penises on the whiteboard.
31:25Why are we writing stuff like this on here?
31:29Going around on some kid's scooter,
31:31I don't even know where they found it from.
31:33Idea is, Crofty's going to throw it, you've got to catch it, yeah?
31:36It does seem like the coaches are losing a bit of patience,
31:38but Kyle loves us, I think he thinks we're great, to be honest.
31:42Where's the power tonight?
31:44You missed the goal!
31:48Just remember, he can throw it a lot harder than you.
31:50No, he can't.
31:51I think in the first few weeks,
31:53it's going to be OK finding how far we can push him
31:56and see if he'll ever, like, flip.
32:00Call it!
32:03Does it go flying now, does it?
32:06Oh!
32:07Hang on, hang on, hang on, hang on!
32:09That's it, took the ball.
32:12If that was a cricket ball,
32:13that would have gone through the wind of that.
32:15Yeah, but I wouldn't have threw it like that
32:16if it was a cricket ball.
32:17Can we get some balls done or not?
32:19No, we're done now, that's it for tonight.
32:21Why?
32:22Why are we finished?
32:23Behaviour.
32:24Correct.
32:25Not one bit of that is funny,
32:27throwing it as hard as a cat out the window.
32:29Yeah.
32:30Listen, listen.
32:32Fred's not been to one of these sessions yet.
32:34If he turns up and that behaviour happens,
32:37that'll be the end of the whole thing.
32:39Genuinely.
32:40Is he staying, is he?
32:41Where is Fred?
32:42It is, Fred.
32:43He'll be here very soon.
32:45Honestly, if we mess about like that,
32:47he'll just sack the whole thing off.
32:49Moving forward, obviously,
32:51I want to get all the cricket gear out,
32:52all the equipment, the hard balls.
32:54What's worrying me tonight now is like...
32:56Someone's going to die.
32:57Someone's going to throw a ball at somebody
32:59and think it's funny and get hurt.
33:01It was a tennis ball, come on.
33:03Hopefully, see everyone next week, if we're allowed back.
33:08I'm just conscious of like, if we keep getting,
33:10letting them get away with just behaving how they want,
33:13it'll never change.
33:14Like, they need to know there's boundaries.
33:15Like, the problem is, the young lads,
33:17and the other lads think it's funny.
33:19So like, they egg each other on, don't they?
33:25I mean, there was times at Fernand's where, you know,
33:27it's like, what have we got ourselves into?
33:29But I always felt like in Fernand's,
33:31we could always rein them in.
33:33No, we didn't.
33:34Chuck's the racket.
33:35What are you doing?
33:36With these lads, if you said to them all tonight,
33:38it's finished for good,
33:40I'm not sure they'd be that bothered,
33:42which is worrying.
33:43How are you finding the cricket? Boring?
33:45Boring, lads.
33:46Just a cover for footy, innit?
33:47Soon as footy season starts again.
33:48Exactly, lads.
33:49It's just something to do instead of sitting in bed.
33:50It's funny, winding the couches, I'm down, innit?
33:51Ah, lads!
33:52All we do is do some catching.
33:53How do you learn how to catch when you're about five, lads?
33:54If we had a game, it would be well, but...
33:55If we had an actual game, then it would be all right.
33:56Do you reckon everyone will stick it out?
33:57Nah.
33:58I don't think the coaches will stick it out, either.
33:59Oh, yeah.
34:00I made teachers quit in primary school, lads.
34:01I don't want to see if I've still got it.
34:02Thanks.
34:03How many have we got?
34:04Good morning, lads.
34:05Good morning, lads.
34:06I'm out, lads.
34:07All we do is do some catching.
34:08How do you learn how to catch when you're about five, lads?
34:09If we had a game, it would be well, but...
34:10If we had an actual game, then it would be all right.
34:11Do you reckon everyone will stick it out?
34:12Nah.
34:13I don't think the coaches will stick it out, either.
34:14Oh, yeah.
34:15I made teachers quit in primary school, lads.
34:17I don't want to see if I've still got it.
34:18Thanks.
34:27A week later, Freddie's back from England duties.
34:30How many have we got?
34:32It's almost four or five.
34:33Your mates?
34:34And has headed straight to Liverpool to meet his boys' team.
34:38Here you go.
34:40Look at this side.
34:41Oh, the f***ing flash everywhere, f***ing.
34:44Cow's saying behaviour's not been great.
34:46Just people messing about, not listening, misbehaving.
34:49How's it been?
34:50Boredom.
34:51Boredom?
34:52Why?
34:53Just is.
34:54Yeah.
34:55Right, let's head over to the next.
34:57Cow's like he's worked quite out, hasn't he?
34:59Some mighty lads.
35:01But I just set off with some good behaviour, to be honest.
35:04Never mind the cricket.
35:05This is all the cricket equipment we're going to need to play a match.
35:08Does anyone know what any of it does?
35:10Attack your bollocks.
35:11Yes!
35:13Oh, this is going to rub that one here.
35:16I'm going to get chafing.
35:17I'm going to write the biggest s*** ever.
35:19I think they've been a bit bored.
35:20They're desperate to get the hardball out and play some proper cricket outside.
35:25The problem with that is, hardball's up.
35:28That's safe, yeah?
35:29That's safe, yeah?
35:30But if this gal's kids are what I think I'm going to be, they'll just want to go in at the deep end.
35:36And why not? Let's see what we've got.
35:39Where's this meant to go?
35:41Down the front.
35:42What?
35:43That protects you.
35:44That protects the crown jewels.
35:46That's what it's for, it's a box.
35:48Football's so much more easier.
35:50Just put shin pads and boots on, you're not good.
35:52Can you bowl?
35:53Have you bowl before?
35:54By the time Fred showed up tonight, you know, thought he'd be more ginger than me.
35:58Actually, I fully thought Fred would be more ginger than he is, but he's not.
36:01Can you show us and show us?
36:03That's how you go, just straight arm.
36:04No, but I want to show you.
36:05I can't, I need a new shoulder.
36:07You need a new shoulder?
36:08Injured, yeah.
36:09Obviously, that scar on his nose, cos I read the bar, Top Gear Accident, which is a shame.
36:14I like that shim.
36:15So all you've got to do is just keep your eye on it, is it?
36:19All good?
36:20All good?
36:21Simple as that.
36:22With the boys fully kitted out, they're ready to face the hard ball for the very first time.
36:27There you go.
36:29I'm not quite sure what to expect.
36:32But just hopefully, you know, tonight, they'll get their heads down, they'll play cricket,
36:36and they'll see some signs of progress.
36:38There you go.
36:40Yeah!
36:42Easy.
36:43Go on, go on, go on, go on, go on.
36:48Ah!
36:49Didn't even hear, boys.
36:50Didn't even hear.
36:51They're actually behaving quite well tonight.
36:53I think the hard balls, you know, have sort of ruffled a few feathers.
36:57I think they know, like, can't mess about.
37:00Here we go.
37:02So far, so good.
37:03Helped having Freddie here.
37:05Great shot!
37:07Tonight, it seemed a bit more professional.
37:09I think as soon as they see Freddie, I think all the boys shit themselves out.
37:12And they just started behaving for once.
37:16He's all right, isn't he, Harry?
37:18Today's session was well better than last session.
37:20Like, everyone looked like they was enjoying themselves.
37:22Yeah, I think Freddie was quite happy today, cos we were actually...
37:26There was no messing about today.
37:27We were all just showing them what we're made of.
37:29Here we go.
37:31Looked like a proud dad.
37:33That's a shot!
37:34That's a shot!
37:35That's a six, that!
37:37Are you smiling as well, Ryan?
37:39What?
37:40Are you enjoying yourself?
37:41Yeah!
37:42Yeah!
37:43When you're actually at a ball, you're chilling.
37:44Say it!
37:45When you're still dead, when they're still dead, making you do push-ups in the hole.
37:49Oh!
37:50Shoot!
37:51I've been really impressed with them, actually.
37:53Connor said he hasn't played before.
37:55Yes, Connor.
37:56Even batting and bowling moves really well.
37:58Ryan as well went in for a second bat, which surprised me.
38:01It shows when you get him doing it and hitting the ball, he smiles and enjoy it.
38:04There you go.
38:05Oh!
38:06Oh!
38:07He's gone!
38:08He had the cup, hadn't he?
38:09That would have hurt the .
38:10It's a lot of effort in Jeffing.
38:13I'd like to nip it in the bud at some point, but I think tonight...
38:17I've not got the confidence!
38:19I'm just going to let it go.
38:21You all right here?
38:22Yeah, no, it's all good.
38:23No, seriously, it's the first time that I've come tonight and I didn't know what to expect when we got here.
38:28Are you scared?
38:29A little bit.
38:30But one of the things which has been so good is how you committed to doing it.
38:34Everyone's tried.
38:35I think you've enjoyed it as well, even though you tried to keep it concealed.
38:39Every time someone hit a ball or did something well, I can see you smiling and enjoying cricket.
38:44But I'm really pleased on your efforts.
38:46Thanks so much.
38:47I just ask you to keep coming back.
38:49Definitely, definitely.
38:50I don't get me wrong, they're not perfect, are they?
38:52However, they tried to put in, didn't they?
38:55You know, the one thing they want to do, they want to play games as quick as possible.
38:58And seeing them with a hard ball tonight, I wouldn't be that worried about that.
39:02Maybe one or two more sessions and then get a game.
39:04Because once you do get them engaged, you see what happens, they enjoy it and they have a go.
39:09So we have got the makings of a team here.
39:12I didn't think I'd be saying that when I got here.
39:14Over the next few weeks...
39:18Come on, catch it, see it, I'll catch it.
39:20Oh!
39:21Fred is hoping to keep both his teams engaged.
39:24Oh, you've got the gloves and obviously the helmets on your head.
39:27My hair will be all splished in there.
39:29No, I'll be fine in this.
39:30...by getting them ready for a match as soon as possible.
39:33Oh, what a catch! What a catch that was!
39:35Yeah!
39:37I think we're the bootle boys.
39:39We've not taken a group of lads who go to school every day.
39:43They've got to want to learn and they're easy.
39:48Oh!
39:50My ass just went there.
39:52They're trying something new for the first time which comes with all different things.
39:56They don't want to show themselves up in front of the piers.
39:59Have y'all wrote your name on your box?
40:05And then you've got Blackpool.
40:07It's fun, Blackpool.
40:09Behaviour on the whole has been good.
40:11If you learn cricket, I'll learn dance.
40:12Right, that's a deal.
40:13But some of the stuff they try and get me encountered are is ridiculous.
40:17You don't have to shake on it.
40:19But I'm enjoying the challenge.
40:21And when I'm there, I see it and you get enthused by it.
40:25Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!
40:27Stop!
40:28But then when you're away from it and you've got all these other things going,
40:32it's like, how do I fit this into everything else?
40:34I think it's the hard bit.
40:36No, no, no, no.
40:39Massive no.
40:40It's juggling everything together.
40:42And it is a big undertaking, not just for me but for everyone involved.
40:46Ready?
40:47Go!
40:49In Liverpool, local coach Gemma has been drafted in to help run the sessions.
40:54Oh!
40:55How are you?
40:56But training doesn't always go to plan when Freddie's not around.
41:00If I have one foul, are you OK?
41:01Carry on.
41:02Keep going.
41:03You're a .
41:04I'm a what?
41:05Stevie, come here.
41:06You're welcome, mate.
41:07Are you going to tell me off, Gemma?
41:08Come here.
41:09Are you going to tell me off, Gemma?
41:10Yeah.
41:11No, did you see me?
41:12Am I a .
41:13Am I?
41:14I'm sorry.
41:15No, I'm sorry.
41:16Yeah.
41:17Be sorry.
41:18Don't call me that again.
41:19It was just a bit of banter that went well too far.
41:21Shouldn't have said that.
41:22I feel bad about it, like, because I think she's great, to be fair.
41:25She's quite sound.
41:26Bit of a scouser.
41:27They are testing my patience.
41:28I'm all up for having a bit of fun and a bit of a laugh, but they don't seem to understand
41:32the level of seriousness in terms of behaviour yet, and I don't know if we're going to get
41:37to that point.
41:38The Liverpool lads have got plenty of character and never short of a word, but behaviour has
41:42been an issue.
41:43A little bit disrespectful to the coaches at times.
41:45We need to nip that in the bud.
41:46We need to nip that in the bud.
41:47We need to nip that in the bud.
41:49Oi, oi, oi! Oi, oi, oi, oi.
42:03Oi, oi, oi, oi.
42:05Oi, oi, oi, oi.
42:07Apa i own your best?
42:10No?
42:11No, seriously.
42:13You can't do that. Seriously, you can't do that.
42:16No, seriously, you can't do that. You can't gesture to him.
42:20He'd just swear in one day at Gemma and then gestured.
42:23I've known that. I mean, with these lads, from what I've seen so far,
42:28he's set boundaries. He needs to be on top of them.
42:31The same with the Preston lads originally.
42:32You give them boundaries as good as gold. You give them free reign.
42:36For want of a better face, you take the piss.
42:38But I'm not having that.
42:40That with Gemma.
42:41That was a misunderstanding, that was...
42:44It's a misunderstanding or what?
42:45No, no, we haven't seen it. I went, have you got any hard balls?
42:49But then swearing at her.
42:51To me, she was no respect.
42:52I didn't even remember saying that to her.
42:54Can't, seriously? She's here working with you, giving her time off.
42:58She knows it's all about stuff. She knows it.
43:00It's not, though, is it? You can't speak to anyone like that or anyone.
43:02No, she understands that.
43:04No, I don't understand that. I'm not having that. Seriously.
43:07We're best mates, me and Gemma.
43:09She's your best mate, then. Don't speak to her like that.
43:11Just have some respect to her.
43:12We said beforehand about swearing.
43:15Yeah, no, but that's just...
43:17No, but that to me shows no respect.
43:19That's just a terrible habit, to be fair.
43:21I don't really mean it, to be honest.
43:23Or, like, when I say, like, a word to someone, I won't mean it.
43:26It just comes out. I don't even realise.
43:28I don't like that.
43:29Swearing.
43:30Try and keep that in check.
43:31Sometimes I'll have, like, a mad, like, outburst, or, like, get really excited or really angry.
43:38I don't like that. Seriously.
43:42People have mentioned it, like, like, my mum's mentioned it, and, like, doctors have said that I might have ADHD, but I don't really.
43:49I don't really want to label it, to be honest with you.
43:52But, eh, I probably do have it.
43:53I just don't want to...
43:54I just don't want to know that I have it.
43:56Are we good?
43:57All good.
43:57Cheers, mate.
43:58I got in now, yeah?
43:59Yeah, go on. You're done.
44:00So I'll grab you again in a minute.
44:04I'm not expecting to be Angel.
44:06I'm not expecting no swearing.
44:08Not in every sentence.
44:11You talk about grassroots cricket.
44:13This isn't soil, this, innit?
44:14This is, like, right underneath that.
44:16So, you know how to do it, don't you?
44:19So when you let go, follow it through.
44:23There we go.
44:24Hey, what's going on here, eh?
44:26Hey, see you smile when you do, eh?
44:27They're charming, aren't they?
44:29And they're funny.
44:29And they've got character and charisma.
44:31I don't want to see all of that.
44:33I've got to give them some room.
44:35But I get the feeling if you give them an inch, they'll take a mile, this lot.
44:38You know what?
44:39I've watched you lads in these nets tonight, trying your nuts off, working at your game, working with each other.
44:43I can't ask for any more than that.
44:45So, big congratulations to all of you.
44:47On Friday, if you're up for it, I want to have a game.
44:51I want you to play a match on here on Friday, so we'll get the details out.
44:55If you do what you've done tonight and commit the way you've done and work together, you're going to be good as gold.
45:00Well done, boys.
45:01Well done, boys.
45:01The first match on Friday, yeah, it'll be a big moment, walking out, knowing that we're the team and the show, and that the training's actually playing off, and that we're not too bad as well.
45:16Ten weeks ago, Freddie put together a team of boys from Liverpool, most of whom had never played cricket before.
45:29And today, he's throwing them into their first ever match.
45:32All they've been asking for is to play a match, so I'd just be interested to see how they go.
45:36I reckon these Liverpool lads, they won't want to lose.
45:39No.
45:40And if they have some disappointment and they get out, it's not going their way.
45:44Yeah.
45:45I'd be interested to see how they react.
45:46We do have to pick captains, aren't we?
45:49I think Steve has been quite hard to deal with at a lot of sessions, but obviously you had a good chat with him the other night, so maybe today it might just give him a bit of a lift.
46:00The first game for these lads, I thought they're ready.
46:03They're going to put all the kit on and they'll dress appropriately and they'll behave themselves and they'll buy into some of the etiquette of cricket, which is a gentleman's game.
46:12Come on then, boys.
46:24Obviously today's going to be your first game.
46:26Kyle, you want to talk about who's going to captain?
46:29Captain for the first game, leading from the front, Stevie.
46:33Oh, Stevie!
46:35Do you want to do it?
46:38I don't know how to play a game of cricket.
46:40Don't worry, they'll help you out.
46:42Steve, we'll help you with feeling in positions and everything like that.
46:45What we want from you is you're going to lead the team, you're going to show them the way.
46:48I don't want a captain in cricket, but just tells us what his teammates to do.
46:53I don't know.
46:54Here we go, here's your kit, boys.
46:55We'll get some kit.
46:56Here we go.
46:57What names are you?
46:57Ryan?
46:58Nope.
46:59Connor.
46:59Stevie.
47:00He's small like that.
47:01The trousers.
47:02No way we have to wear these.
47:05You have to wear socks.
47:06What's that?
47:08Oh, yes.
47:09That's nice, that's it.
47:10Yeah, that's yours.
47:10Lad, that's a beast.
47:12Hey, lad, any of my mates see me in this, lad, I am getting ridged for the rest of my life, lad.
47:16Yeah, good job, good job, it's not hard to tell you.
47:19With kit sorted, all that's missing is the opposition.
47:23For their first match, Freddie's invited his original team from Preston to compete against the Boodle Boys.
47:31Hey!
47:32Hey, lad.
47:32All good?
47:34How are you?
47:35Yeah, I am.
47:35You're going to seduce yourself.
47:36Yes!
47:36Good job.
47:37All right.
47:37They just look ready, lad.
47:39All right.
47:40Take it on me, aren't you?
47:43Hey, take a reason on us, yeah?
47:45We've been playing for, like, two months now, so...
47:47All right, mate, you OK?
47:51These Preston kids, they look like they'd be playing cricket
47:53every day of their life.
47:54We're not that good, don't worry.
47:55Look posh and soft.
47:57So, it'll be an interesting challenge,
47:59but we are going to absolutely bat them everywhere,
48:02cos they are try-hards.
48:03Why have you gone from Preston to Bootle?
48:05What are you playing at?
48:07It's a good question.
48:09It's like you, season one.
48:10No, he's an angel compared...
48:13You've got me, times nine.
48:15Oh, mate, every one of them.
48:18You've got to finger the boys up, like,
48:20hey, we're about to smoke, damn it.
48:22We're smoking.
48:23The way they looked at us when we walked out, he's like...
48:25The good lads are funny. They are lively.
48:28They're lively in there. Getting changed.
48:36As team captain, 16-year-old Stevie
48:39needs to come up with a game plan for the match.
48:42We've got to all ball up, innit? Come at the lads.
48:44But he's never been captain before,
48:46let alone played a game of cricket.
48:48What is the tactics, then, please?
48:50I don't have...
48:52Yes, Freddie, lad.
48:53Look at this.
48:54Yes, look at this.
48:56Get Freddie involved.
48:58Stevie, come on.
48:59Are you ready for this?
49:01I admit it's going to be...
49:02Maximum effort, the boys.
49:03Get in the circle with us.
49:04Come on, then. I haven't said nothing. Come on, Steve.
49:06Give us something.
49:08It's my team today, my rules.
49:09I can tell them whatever I want.
49:11Shelter them as much as I want.
49:13I want full effort.
49:14I want to smug them.
49:16Right?
49:17Tactics are f***ing wins.
49:18Oi!
49:19Let's do it!
49:20We're the last of swearing in the team talk.
49:22Come on, boys. Come back. Come on, boys.
49:24Get out there.
49:26They've chose the old team that Freddie used to teach,
49:30but I reckon we're the newer version in it,
49:33so we'll beat them, therefore.
49:36You're in the wrong changing room, Fred.
49:38I know, yeah.
49:39Is Stevie causing your problems?
49:42Initially, but he's... I've had experience with that.
49:47That's not me.
49:49That ain't me, lad.
49:51What? No, he's a good lad.
49:53No!
49:55Stevie, where's that warm-up, lad?
50:00You're pissing at me with water. They're warming up, lad.
50:04That was my warm-up.
50:05Kyle and Fred chose Stevie to be captain, which is stupid.
50:09I'm sure I know.
50:10You're a shocking captain, you lad.
50:12You're letting the team down here, lad.
50:14I do notice some similarities within, like, their attitude,
50:18but... I don't know.
50:20We'll just have to see how they perform today
50:23and how they take it when we beat them.
50:27Both teams have ten overs to score as many runs as they can.
50:32You need to keep the energy high.
50:33Come on, mate, then, lads!
50:35And having won the toss, the Preston lads are batting first.
50:38You know what I'm feeling? We're feeling confident, aren't we?
50:41It's like...
50:42All I'm waiting to see is the first bowl,
50:44because the first bowl is what shows everything in it, really, yeah.
50:50Oh!
50:52What happened there?
50:53This isn't going to go well now, Lush.
50:55We made that do.
50:56Yes, yes, yes!
50:57Oh, lad!
50:58I might have just hit an absolute rocket of a six.
51:02Well, look at the ****, to be honest.
51:04Despite playing against experienced batters...
51:07Oh, they just go up ten.
51:10..the Bootle boys are rallying together as a team.
51:13Come on, Stevie, now! Come on, now! Come on!
51:16Get watching the game, Stevie!
51:18We're good lads, these, you know.
51:19Especially compared to our first game,
51:21they talk to each other on the field, like, a lot.
51:24Oh, and the Whites are all trying, they're all encouraging each other.
51:28The nice thing is, they're kind of behaving.
51:31I can't hear everything the same from you.
51:33I don't really want it, be honest.
51:35Catch it!
51:38That's great, this.
51:39They're flying it.
51:40They're on a total of 75 runs.
51:42Aye, Conor, you'll smoke it, bro.
51:44You don't get one out, you're going to be a virgin till you're 40.
51:47Yeah!
51:50Yes, Conor, lad!
51:53Told you!
51:54Yes, lad!
51:55Ow!
51:56That's heavy!
51:58At the end of their innings,
51:59the Preston lads have scored 85 runs.
52:02Right, what are we saying then, boys?
52:04We're going to win this.
52:05Come on, boys, come on, come on!
52:0686 all we need, let's smoke them,
52:08and if we smoke them, then we get a kneecap and all.
52:10All right, let's go.
52:11Have some fun, boys.
52:12Needing 86 to win,
52:14the Bootle boys have an uphill battle,
52:16facing experienced bowlers
52:18who've been playing together for the last three years.
52:21On it, on it, on it!
52:22Keep it!
52:23Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!
52:24What's going on here?
52:25Nice!
52:26We got one, we got one!
52:29Despite a shaky start,
52:31most of the boys are managing to score some runs.
52:36That's a one!
52:37Do you know what I mean?
52:38Five!
52:39Was that four or what?
52:40Four.
52:41You got a chance here, lads!
52:42Good!
52:43Yes, lads!
52:44Yeah!
52:45That's a six, Adam.
52:47Yes, Adam!
52:48Doing really well.
52:49At least they made a game of it.
52:51So we need 35 and three overs.
52:54Tough ask, but doable.
52:56But someone's going to have to hit a few boundaries now,
52:58but there's still a chance.
52:59Yes, Adam!
53:00Yes, Adam!
53:01Get it!
53:02Oh!
53:03Yes, boys!
53:04Hey, Wade just broke his own windows almost!
53:07Yeah!
53:08Nice one, Matt!
53:09Nice one, Matt!
53:10The team's hopes now rest on Ryan,
53:11and their newly appointed captain, Stevie.
53:12Don't understand the thing that's going on.
53:13Put the bat in your left hand!
53:14Nah, I can't bat like that!
53:15You don't want to bat like that!
53:16What am I meant to do?
53:17I don't even know what to do.
53:18They need just 18 runs to win.
53:19Put the bat on the floor.
53:20Left hand.
53:21Come here!
53:22Give me that!
53:23It's like that!
53:24Oh, hey, Ryan, lad!
53:25Stevie, put the bat on the floor!
53:26You can't bat like that!
53:27You can't bat like that!
53:28You can't bat like that!
53:29What am I meant to do?
53:30I don't even know what to do.
53:31They need just 18 runs to win.
53:32Put the bat on the floor.
53:33Left hand.
53:34Come here!
53:35Just like that!
53:36Oh, hey, Ryan, lad!
53:38Stevie, watch it!
53:42Oh, Gemmy, you're lucky you don't have balls, you know,
53:44because these cups are horrible.
53:48Nice!
53:49Unsure of the rules, Stevie starts to run.
53:54Get back!
53:55Oh, my God!
53:57Which gives the Preston lads the chance to stump him out.
54:00Hey, that was your fault for the start!
54:02What happened, lad?
54:03What happened with him?
54:05Ryan hit the ball, and he said run,
54:08and then by the time it ran, I was already out.
54:10I don't even know what happened, though, to be fair.
54:13At the end of their first ever match,
54:15the Bootle boys have fallen short
54:17and lost by just 13 runs.
54:19I was waiting for him to turn round and look at me,
54:21and he's talking to Gemma.
54:24Yeah, I definitely think they have potential.
54:26They bounce off each other's energies
54:27and they seem to be there for each other,
54:29and that'll only, like, improve them in the future.
54:32Well done, thank you.
54:33They're better than what we were when we started, 100%.
54:35They've got more potential than us.
54:37Nice work, boys.
54:38Hey, you all did well, though.
54:40Go on, man.
54:41They get behind each other, they communicate,
54:42they make decisions really, really well.
54:44I mean, on the pitch, it's impressive.
54:46But you've got to learn how to be like that off the pitch
54:51if you want to get further with cricket.
54:53It is a game about respect.
54:55What did you reckon today? Did you enjoy it?
54:57It was just great.
54:58Amazing.
54:59And the team, especially who he played the best.
55:02Would you like to play another game?
55:04Yes.
55:05Tomorrow?
55:06I thought, from my point of view, I thought you were brilliant.
55:09And just the way you took to it, the way you put the gear on,
55:11the way you put the whites on, the way you supported each other,
55:13the way you played.
55:14To be honest with you, from where they started,
55:15it took them, like, three months before they played with a hardball.
55:18I thought I'd sort some more games out.
55:20Definitely.
55:21Play more, more practice, more games.
55:22I reckon we'll beat them next time.
55:24We need to learn the rules first and know what we're doing.
55:26I think that was a good effort.
55:28And I couldn't have imagined that three months ago,
55:33you had these lads from Liverpool talking,
55:36I wouldn't say passionately, but favourably about cricket.
55:40But the best thing was, we enjoyed it, we were smiling.
55:42From my point of view, lads, I pumped me out for you.
55:44Well done.
55:45Well done, lads.
55:48The best team did win life, but we'll get there one day.
55:51What?
55:52Best thing ever.
55:53Sick.
55:54They played well, they came quite close to winning.
55:57But that's one part of it.
55:59Now it's like, are they going to come again next week?
56:02Is the behaviour going to change?
56:04Because they can't keep carrying on the way they are.
56:06You know, we've got to change their mind and how they view everything,
56:09as opposed to trying to teach them how to catch a ball.
56:11And that's far harder.
56:13Freddie, chuck a ball for me, please.
56:15Yeah.
56:16I don't know if I'm a pioneer or I'm stupid.
56:18But I want to do a third team.
56:21Can't be the next Freddie Flintoff.
56:22Freddie Flintoff.
56:23I know.
56:24Get out, man.
56:25I do like a challenge.
56:26But it's dawning on me, actually, the magnitude of what we're trying to do.
56:31Playing a game, you have to get on.
56:33I'm not in the mood for it.
56:35And right now, that's not happening.
56:37You can now watch bonus content from the Open University,
56:41and discover the pioneers and trailblazers who changed the game for women's cricket.
56:46To access it, scan the QR code on screen or visit connect.open.ac.uk forward slash field of dreams.
56:55To be continued.
56:56To be continued.
56:57To be continued.
56:58To be continued.
56:59Transcription by CastingWords
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