“I thought I could just shake it off,” Flintoff tells the show. “I wanted to shake it off and say ‘I’m alright’ but it’s not been a case of that. It’s been a lot harder than I thought. As much as I wanted to go out and do things, I’ve just not been able to.

“I’m better than I was. I don’t know what completely better is. I am what I am now. I’m different to what I was.

“It’s something I will probably have to deal with for the rest of my life. So, better? No, different.”

Flintoff was praised for his contribution to the show on social media.

The football commentator Guy Mowbray said: “Field of Dreams was my favourite programme first time round – this one in India tops it. So much admiration for Freddie Flintoff – and the lads. Inspirational”.

Another on X, formerly Twitter, said: “Didn’t think I could love Freddie Flintoff any more than I did until I watched the new series of Field of Dreams. What a man, great strength and courage to come back from what he did and you get the genuine affection he has for those young cricketers. Brilliant to watch.”

Flintoff is currently back involved in cricket. He is head coach of Northern Superchargers, who have had a good season in the Hundred, and worked with the England setup at the recent T20 World Cup. His 16-year-old son, Rocky, is an outstanding prospect with both Lancashire and England Under-19s.