Freddie Flintoff yet again won viewers’ hearts with the second series of Field of Dreams, this time helping his young proteges from Preston overcome challenges with autism and anxiety during a life-changing cricket tour of India.
The England legend, who during the series revealed his horror Top Gear crash has left him struggling with anxiety, nightmares and flashbacks, has been widely praised for how he handled the group of would-be cricketers from his hometown.
Series two of Field of Dreams saw Flintoff reunite his Preston boys for the trip of a lifetime to India.
Many of the young boys admitted they had never left Preston or been on a plane, but their lives would go on to be transformed as they touched down in one of India’s largest cities, Kolkata.
Flintoff and his team’s performances on and off the pitch have left viewers in tears – and many have now gone on to make huge changes in their lives as a result of the lessons they learned during the tour.
As the second series of Field of Dreams came to an end last week, one viewer summed it up perfectly by posting: ‘Arise Sir Freddie’.
1. Finn
The 19-year-old bravely opened up about his battles with autism and anxiety during the third episode of series two.
When Flintoff and his boys get invited to a glitzy party hosted by the British Deputy High Commissioner to Kolkata, most of the team are delighted to go out and buy a suit from a prestigious tailor in India.
But for Finn, it was massively out of his comfort zone. During the episode, he confides in Flintoff about feeling judged over his background but is later seen laughing and joking with his pals after another perfectly handled conversation with his mentor.
Despite being nervous about travelling to India because of his autism, he told The Sunday Times it was ‘the best time of my life’.
‘Knowing the lads before and knowing them after, the change is remarkable,’ he added. ‘We are all totally different people. I think the show downplayed how much of an effect it had on us.’
Almost six months after returning from India, Finn is now waiting to find out if his application to join the army has been successful.
2. Eli
Eli, who is also 19, was drafted in for Flintoff’s India tour at the last minute after two boys with Pakistani heritage were refused Indian visas.
As one of the best players on the team, Eli led the squad to their first victory on the tour with a memorable innings in a Kolkata park. After being teased for playing cricket as a teenager, he fell into the wrong crowd and left school in Blackpool without any GCSE’s.
He told The Times that the whole team ‘came back with our wide eyes open’, adding: ‘I realised there was more to life than being a muppet.’
Eli was asked to lead one of the coaching sessions on tour and Flintoff has offered to finance his coaching qualifications – something the 19-year-old jumped at.
Since returning to Blackpool, Eli has continued to play cricket and has done his coaching qualifications.
3. Hemi
In one of the many moments that left viewers on the verge of tears, Hemi, also 19, has a major breakthrough on tour when the team visit a teenage hangout area in Kolkata.
Having struggled at school with ADHD, Hemi had never rapped or performed outside of his bedroom.
But that all changed in Kolkata, when his caring teammates convinced him to grab a microphone and showcase his talent.
After being applauded by local beatboxers and his Preston crew, Hemi admits his cheeks hurt from smiling so much and vows to keep performing back home.
Now six months on, Hemi has a gig lined up and has found work experience in post-production. He told The Times that he now ‘wants to make more out of my life’.
4. Josh
The 20-year-old, who has autism, was perhaps the cricketer who struggled the most with the tour of India.
The hustle and bustle of Kolkata, mixed with new sights and smells and overwhelming heat, left Josh way out of his comfort zone.
However, he now described the trip as ‘eye-opening’ and has started his own business as well as rejoining his rugby club.
5. Ben
Also aged 20, Ben overcame nerves to teach an English lesson in a school for orphans. The episode shows ‘Mr Ben’ connect with the children as he gets them to write down and read out their life ambitions.
Ben, who has battled with depression and homelessness in his teens, says that he has moved south and is doing an apprenticeship in teaching outdoor sports.
The trip, as it has for so many, has changed his whole life.
6. Adnan
It took five months for Adnan to reach Preston after fleeing from Afghanistan without his parents. During the show, he emotionally reveals to Flintoff ”My mum was crying and she said, ‘Your life is in danger’.
‘I left and didn’t see her again and didn’t speak with her again.’
Adnan, who arrived in Preston in the back of a lorry in April 2021, spent his first night with foster carers Barry and Elaine. There were plans in place for Adnan to find a permanent place but after a few weeks, he decided he wanted to stay with Barry and Elaine.
Elaine told how Adnan did not speak any English when he arrived and walked around with his head down. However, his life was transformed when Barry took him to play cricket.
Adnan also faced major setbacks when trying to get asylum. That was until Flintoff stepped in and wrote to the Home Office. Adnan, who will be able to apply for British citizenship in six years’ time, also won a scholarship at one of Lancashire’s most prestigious boarding schools.
Adnan, who has just finished a strong season with the Lancashire Under-18s, is now dreaming of becoming a professional cricket player. He has also passed his driving test, which means Barry doesn’t have to drive him to each session.
Fans of the series will be delighted to know Flintoff, who grew up in working-class Preston himself, has been rewarded with a third season thanks to its glowing success.
The cricket superstar’s series came to an end on Tuesday night but the BBC has already started filming the third series.
A source close to the show told the Daily Mirror: ‘Freddie’s last two series have been a huge success and he and the boys have loved making them.
‘The BBC jumped at the chance to do a third series.’