The NatWest Secret Cricketer starring Michael Vaughan

In 2006, Goldsborough Cricket Club 2nds suffered the worst score in modern English recreational cricket. Their defeat to Dishforth Cricket Club resulted in ten of their batsmen getting out for a duck and the last man left stranded on zero. That year Dishforth went up a division, Goldsborough down a division. They've not met in a competitive match since.
In August 2011, NatWest staged a rematch giving Goldsborough a chance to win back some pride and Dishforth the opportunity to prove it wasn't a one off. To help Goldsborough avoid history repeating itself, NatWest gave them a secret weapon.... The Secret Cricketer.
Join the banter around The Secret Cricketer at:
/ natwestcricket
/ natwest_cricket
and if you want to find out more about how you can get involved in NatWest CricketForce and more on the NatWest Cricket Club visit:
www.natwest.com...
Creative: glue Isobar
Director: James Rouse
Production Company: Outsider
SFX: Artem

[@Wally-H]

Some years ago when I was playing in our local league for my village, we had a Pakistani gentleman turn up and ask if he could play. He said his brother lived locally and he had come over on an extended visit. Next thing you know, he is opening the batting for us and stroking shots just like MV does here. I asked our captain who he played for in Pakistan. "Apparently, he plays for Lahore, with the likes of Wasim Akram." We only had him for about two months but the runs he scored and wickets he took, will live long in the memory. I guess you never really know who you're playing against, even in village cricket!

[@atifrehmanfarooqui1429]

Thats because kids in Pakistan play tape ball or tennis ball cricket with lighter bats. They would absolutely love batting. This makes the sport better than football. You will only improve if you love anything.

[@Bernie8330]

There is a joke (going back about 40 or 50 years) of a man was walking past a local cricket ground in a country town in Australia and he is stopped by the captain of one of the teams and he tells him "We're a player short ... would you like a game?" The stranger replies "Sure why not it's been a while since I had a hit" and the captains asks curiously "So you're a batsman then?" "Yeah" he replies, "Used to bat number 6 mostly". So he bats at 6 and scores 60 odd. After the game the captain tells him how impressed he is and would he like to play again next week. The man replies "Sure, but I just might be half an hour late, I hope that's ok ... " the next weekend, he arrives on time and bats at 6 and scores another 60 odd but this time he bats left handed whereas the previous week he had batted right handed. The captain queries this and the man laughs and says "My wife claims she is psychic and in 20 years of marriage has never been wrong. So, if she is asleep on her right side when i wake up I bat right handed, if she is asleep on her left side I bat left handed." The captain asks "Well what do u do if she is asleep on her back (when you wake up)?" The man winks and says "That's when I'm half an hour late!"

[@Wally-H]

He was certainly impressive. despite his quality, he had never played on an English 'green top' before but his timing was impeccable. The funniest innings came when we played our biggest rivals and they had an Aussie pro who had played first grade cricket. Their captain said the Aussie was going to "stick it up 'ya". He bowled the first over to Muuka and he hit him for a six and three fours! He went on to score 80 before their cheating umpire gave him out LBW. We won that game and they were top of the league. @@atifrehmanfarooqui1429

[@atifrehmanfarooqui1429]

@@Wally-H As i said before it is because of the tape ball cricket. There are many many good players in Pakistan but our problem is nepotism and lack of resources. I think Pakistan in cricket is like Brazil in football. You can search it in youtube tape ball cricket. I think cricket can be extremely popular in other countries as well if they play tape ball cricket. I know so many friends in my city who bowl extremely quick and some hard hitters as well. Funny part is that its just one city in the whole country. Thats why when Pakistan or india loses cricket match, we really grill the whole team.

[@arhamsaa]

@@atifrehmanfarooqui1429 Tape ball cricket just produces blind hitters.

[@andrewjenkinson8948]

Playing village cricket in England is a joy. Was lucky as an Aussie to play a couple of summers there. The grounds, like this one, are just so beautiful, just like the countryside.

[@jameswelsby5734]

mymentor we had a couple of Aussies in our village team over the years.

[@Bernie8330]

mymentor sadly bush cricket here in Australia has all but died out.

[@mragunathan1627]

I actually feel like playing cricket again after seeing this video lol, i got hit in the ribs in the nets about 4 years ago and decided to give up hardball cricket as i just didnt want to risk it

[@tonyfranklin8306]

@@mragunathan1627 i got twatted under the chin backing up on the last delivery of a limited overs game 30 years ago, stopped it going for 4 apparently, broke a molar as well! I'd go back and play in a heartbeat, but then I used to play rugby league as well so playing cricket sans helmet doesn't really bother me tbh. get back out lad, it's a crack even if you get a duck!

[@357HFC]

Met too. could not agree more. Made some life long friendships.

[@sathanxavier1972]

Michael vaughan after make up - Jason Gillespie 😂

[@crashpal]

Sathan Xavier cannot unsee

[@SuperRokerz]

Xavier എപ്പോഴാ high range irangyadh :p

[@blakeja0677]

Sathan Xavier 🖕

[@vivekpilot]

ഡാ കള്ള മല്ലു 😁😁

[@iamgroot3727]

Vaughan in make up with is botham with long hair

[@kingdomofskeough6880]

Imagine being the guy who got him out

[@SAMURAI-nx4uf]

KingDomofSkeough that would be good as man

[@jacobburtonswfc]

He didnt know who he had actually got out when it happened.

[@Wally-H]

It would be a nice thing to tell your grandkids, although in all honesty it was a crap ball and didn't get what it deserved lol

[@OQR_TC]

Bet his mates now know all about it...

[@thehorsecockexpress1068]

@MUFC and?

[@andrewwise479]

Class captaincy...putting Vaughan at fine leg!

[@Wally-H]

He put Michael down there to hide him - he had padding round his middle to make him look like he had middle-age spread. I don't think he could have darted around in the covers like that! They also didn't want to give the game away before he had the chance to bat.

[@stuarttaft2918]

John Clark brill

[@bollywoodway3312]

Cricket is most enjoyable when played on a sunny Sunday morning with a bunch of good mates. This is what it's meant to be.

[@vimalvnr2958]

Saturday morning?

[@jamespower5165]

The problem is that much of the "spirit of the game" stuff in cricket comes from that image and is entirely unsuitable for competitive professional cricket

[@aussie4life05]

It's hard to from facing people bowling 130+ km/h on the best wickets in the world to facing blokes bowling 90 km/h on shitty wickets. They were probably too slow for him

[@Wally-H]

you do have to play differently on english village 'green tops'. One minute the ball just stops and doesn't bounce, and the next, it's popping up around your chest out of nothing. The key is that you have to play quite late. If you select your shot too early and the ball does something unpredictable, you've had it. Vaughan probably misjudged the ball that got him out because he simply isn't used to that level of unpredictability. Also, I'm fairly certain this pitch is the wrong way round and he had the sun in his eyes. You can tell by looking at the players' shadows.

[@jamespower5165]

​@@Wally-HBut that's good, isn't it? Teaches you to play late and the point of contact should be right under your chin. I can see a t20 hitter being helpless but a test match player should ace it. Just goes to show they don't make 'em like they used to

[@Wally-H]

@@jamespower5165 Yes I have no problem with it, I played on these types of wicket for 35 years and I scored plenty of runs. My comments about how to play come from personal experience. @jamespower5165

[@sharjeelejaz7278]

Well, Vaughan after ur performance u should join this club

[@animeshingh]

😂😂😂

[@mattc4941]

I was lucky enough to find Vaughny in a car park and got his autopraph

[@kenthomson9562]

Awesome Aid22.7 Did he know what you were asking for?

[@rax816]

Ken Thomson he asked for an autopraph..what would be confusing about that? 😂

[@danielaustin1321]

Johnny Sack hahahahhaahhhaha

[@shashwatshukla1510]

Johnny Sack 😂

[@asinicalnarcissist9520]

nice guy?

[@103nrh]

Some sweet shots by Virgil for sure, but the big fella hooking the short one into the trees at 5:12 was the shot of the match! Sounded perfect!

[@ynotnilknarf39]

absolutely tonked it didn't he, super shot!

[@mohamedrahaman9238]

Village cricket anywhere in the world is the best. Regular blokes, not all in good shape, but hey, bragging rights are on the line and drinks after play (I don't drink, but i know). The way it was meant to be.

[@jamiewilson8253]

What surprised me was the ground,and bar area were very good (not the deck,but it was wet) but the standard was poor.And off topic,I can remember going over the pennines to watch Norwich at old Trafford,(and Bolton,Preston,tranmere...) and seeing a postage stamp ground,where it seemed if you hit a big 6 it would've gone about 800feet down into a valley. Beautiful. 🙂👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@TheGoProGuy07]

MORE OF THIS TYPE OF VIDEOS PLEASE!!!!

[@notmarkatall]

This was so enjoyable. With so many friendly and League clubs struggling for players, hopefully a few more recruits can be inspired to take part in the wonderful summer game !

[@jamescromarty1455]

I love cricket and played for a village team for a few years, was a good laugh at first. But some who I would call in the "click" took it far too seriously and eventually just sapped all the fun out of it. Would love to play again but I'm not very good at all 😂.

[@santokun5835]

@@jamescromarty1455 Has the participation Increased in UK? I reckon the WC win as well as the ashes of 2019 gave it a boost.

[@jamescromarty1455]

@@santokun5835 Its been falling for about 10-15 years, I'd say its levled off now. Problem is exposure the sky production is top quality but hidden from those who cant afford it.

[@santokun5835]

@@jamescromarty1455 I noticed that. Especially in social media, reach of cricket seems to be even lower in British media than that of baseball lol. I probably saw only 5-6 post from bbc sport after the WC win. But then again, isn’t football and most other major sports too behind paywall? Why is it cricket that seems to be “struggling” in England.

[@grimfandango2006]

Okay, he only got 28, but you can really tell that he was a test player, great balance and easy timing great vid

[@Wally-H]

And that 28 was vital in a low-scoring game. They may not have won without it

[@davidwillis7991]

I truly doubt you can tell he's a test player from that. Any player a class above is indistinguishable from a test player when they're facing bowling that slow. They might not be good enough to play for the 3rd grade in a city and still look like a test player.

[@MrHistorian123]

I know of one lower score than this - Dringhouses 2nd XI were bowled out for 3 by Cawood in about 1979 in the York Senior League. (I was watching as Dringhouses had asked me to join them). The first ball of Cawood's innings went for 4 byes, so they won without any of their batsmen hitting the ball. Fair play to Vaughany - he's a really top bloke and knows how to have a laugh. Those players will have something special to tell their grandkids.

[@ynotnilknarf39]

What MV did was actually inspire the players to do better themselves, that he scored 28 was a helping hand but the overall positive effect of knowing he was in the team was bigger.

[@CanadianHaryanvi17]

Then they never had to pay the lagaan again, ever.

[@thinhnonyt]

hahaha great movie that one

[@MagicalMaths]

I heard Vaughan talking about this on TMS - what a great idea! The guy batting at the end looked pretty useful as well!

[@Wally-H]

Hit a great six, using the perfect technique on slow English village wickets - the old fashioned way, swivelling your front foot and planting it firmly before hitting the ball. If Vaughan had done that he might not have got himself out!

[@zeppelin1qaz]

The smooth cover drive should have given it away,

[@Wally-H]

Indeed, not too many village cricketers can time the ball like that

[@stephenmason1028]

@@Wally-H at 4:11 The big guy in blue (top right of screen) has seen enough to think so after that one shot haha

[@Wally-H]

@@stephenmason1028 Yes, I think that's probably some of their first team players who went down to take a look and they quickly suss that something is afoot as they know their second eleven isn't going to just randomly pick up a new player of that class right before a game like this. When Vaughan gets out that same bloke says "you won't see that shot on Cricket AM!" By that time, I wouldn't be surprised if someone had whispered in his ear and told him who was playing. Just before the bit you're talking about, also at 4.11, pause it and look at the face of the bloke sitting in a training top - he looks like he can't quite believe what he has just seen lol. He later asks the captain "why can't you play like that!"

[@stephenmason1028]

@@Wally-H I thought that might've been what the seated fella was reacting to as well, but couldn't quite be sure because of the camera orientation.

[@tonyfranklin8306]

shows you what an inspiration to play better can do having a top player around. That Vaughn got out relatively early gave the players a chance to prove that they aren't as bad as they thought. They just needed a bit of a boost and they proved their worth, MV contribution was more in the mind than it was with the bat. Great day for all, miss having a bowl and intimidating batters by fielding real close, good old days!

[@georgesmith4]

I wish I was in England and enjoyed the country side cricket with the climate.

[@PavanKumar-vd4zb]

You read my mind brother

[@npd6225]

This reminds me of when I was walking past North Sydney oval 3 and I noticed a guy coming off the back fence bowling absolute flames... I knew something was up because for a social game there was quite a crowd. Anyway, it turned out to be Brett Lee playing for Mosman in 4th division. I felt sorry for the batsman that day. Poor fellas. Was an enjoyable spectacle though.

[@21lessons56]

I want to migrate to England just to play village cricket.

[@nidhinbenny7975]

Haha same its nice huh?

[@voiceofamir7003]

Me to bro

[@davidwillis7991]

I'm sure there's differences between the lowest level in England and other countries but I don't think I'd move all the way to England for them.

[@jayaiyer2295]

I’m sure I’d fare pretty well against these lads

[@jameswhittingham8027]

Come to Stoneleigh.

[@ewantracey6432]

unregistered player, void game 30 point fine!!

[@tonyfranklin8306]

Surely not at that level it isn't, we never registered to play individually in the Hull district leagues but that was 30 years ago, we just turned up and played after a phone call as to availability.

[@barrynichols2846]

It wasn't a competition game

[@Crasky1992]

Brilliant 😂

[@heftyalan1152]

Accent unmistakable even behind the make up so surprised someone didn't work it out. That bowler is pretty impressive.

[@jaythomas3223]

They all have the same accent lol

[@charlesjones5789]

that cover drive first ball was beautiful, could watch it all day. Takes a pro of vaughan's class to pull that off....could have given him away

[@leebreen3982]

With former professional players doing this it can only make our game better and get more kids involved. Good on you Vaughny.

[@marksimpson2321]

Hugely entertaining upload. Interesting to see how much better Vaughn's shots seemed.

[@aircrashbandit]

Brought tears to my eyes

[@SSS-yq8pz]

there are two types of cricket lovers...

[@Chris-ph9mf]

TheMHCuber really. You softy

[@clivemitchell4316]

@Haroon Hussain whatever floats your boat I guess...

[@chrism8329]

Sensational. Must have been such a special moment for all involved.

[@nimraandshariq439]

imagine how that dude would be feeling after he got vaughan out

[@rax816]

Oh dear you lose the game and then have to hunt for the ball in a wheat field 😶

[@KundaSandy2010]

That's why it's Village cricket

[@Wally-H]

lol welcome to English village cricket. I played it for 25 years and recovered balls from fields, orchards, pub car parks, graveyards (we had one next to our home ground), a fox hole on one occasion and would you believe, a zebra enclosure when the circus was pitched next door during an away game. On another occasion, one of my team mates got chased by an alsatian and a bloke with a shotgun while recovering the ball from a field he owned.

[@sadiaadil6423]

@@Wally-H good god that sounds like such an adventure 😆👍🏽 U can actually write a children's book with these fun experiences 😄

[@stirlingattfield7678]

Even worse, he may have found Theresa May running around back there.

[@Wally-H]

@@sadiaadil6423 Not everything would be suitable for a children's book. On another occasion one of my team mates went into a wheat field to recover a ball and found a courting couple

[@tonyknight9912]

This happened to my own club in something like 1891 (need to check date). Playing local Meridan who scored 73, we were all out for 0 , yes zero!

[@electricmaster23]

Yep. I was there as a wee lad. I might be 139 years old now, but I remember it like it was yesterday.

[@gajendrasinghkanyal3766]

Nice alibi count dracula

[@domgoddard3106]

I played against MS Dhoni recently and I opened the bowling, even batting left handed I went for an economy of like 7 or 8 in a 16 over match lol

[@MrHuddy]

Great stuff Vaughany!! Well played sir. Classy strokes too. I'm glad they won it not just because of him :)

[@MattandDave09]

"@saccerzd Both teams were told they were being filmed for a NatWest documentary, so they were expecting cameras, but not Gary Watson."

[@Andyjzr]

Watching Gary play, it's the timing, the pose, the footwork, reading the line so well, just like me on a Saturday. Ok, well probably not but I shall play my village cricket, get out to a hoo har down Cow's corner and lose. Thne we will have a beer win or lose I love Cricket.

[@MattandDave09]

@saccerzd Both teams were told they were being filmed for a NatWest documentary, so they were expecting cameras, but not Gary Watson.

[@syedzaidi8082]

he played for his life here ..

[@DanielStuart94]

thanks for coming vaughny

[@andrewhebron]

credit to the bowler who got him out... Lucky Vaughany didnt pull his own wig off as well at the end

[@MultiRambo008]

Imagine him being out for a duck.

[@jarrethcutestory]

At least that's a record that can't be beaten

[@mark.lawrence]

absolutely class ... he can bat him ... priceless ...

[@richardevans560]

This is BS, they were 5 all out, I've played for Bournemouth 3's in the 1990s and they bowled out a team for 0, yes zero, nilch, nada.

[@TheCleaner76]

5 Extras

[@yummydog181]

I got 30 runs in 3 overs once and got out with 3 runs remaining (we needed 33 off 18 balls) a very unlucky game for us

[@PawanKumar-rj9dl]

I was captain of my team. And I had to go on field when only 1 ball was left and 4 runs was required. I stepped out of the crease and ran 3 runs. That was a tie but still a fantastic memory I have.

[@lukealadeen7836]

The English to me have alwaus been a mystery. Such politeness in manner and speech, even in the game they love but in the same breathe the tormentors of much the world in the 17th and 18th centuries.

[@kallikrates55]

Wonderful, thanks TMS and Michael

[@Andyjzr]

Just watch his feet. What a bat.

[@samuelatienzo4627]

Grounds in England look so beautiful 😍... coming from a sunburnt Australia 🇦🇺 ☀️

[@jgm64productions27]

Geez, the deck is as green as the outfield :)

[@Wally-H]

lol welcome to english village cricket. Most small cricket clubs don't have covers, so you play on green-tops all the time. As a batsman you have to get used to it, and play accordingly.

[@tlotlosenai7304]

3:27, ah, the classic raise of the right foot, It never ends well...

[@Sf251-tookay]

Love how the ONE sports that cant happen with rain around is the national sport of the rainiest country in the world

[@matthewwakefield3281]

wouldn't you guess something's up from the cameras

[@vl7721]

I palyed against his son in a uunder 11 county game a couple of years ago and i got a photo with him

[@rohp1283]

Geofery Boycott: "You're a disgrace to Yorkshire." Geofery Boycott is not a Sir. He is too good for the honours list.

[@rusty1996]

Plot twist @ 6:07 - Daniel Vettorri revealed as secret bowler for other team

[@harveyholmes9533]

Why do the skip the two overs after Vaughan does where two bottom order batters got 28 off two overs?

[@Jayqo]

‘Got a bit of a confession gentle men.. well bowled well playef’

[@dpmech4376]

Made my day. Brilliant Michael Vaughan.

[@Andyjzr]

@saccerzd. The film was made under the guise of recreating the match as set out in the description.

[@wolfy027]

Legend says : the ball is still being sought for

[@RajasthanRoyalsAcademyUK]

One of the greatest batters of world cricket .

[@willdiz]

Came across the video by chance and realised that i played there on Sunday. LEL

[@monkeyninja20007]

How embarrassing- England captain 28 in village cricket... no wonder no one else would do this... pure shame.

[@dave41184]

Fair play Michael Vaughn - shows he's game for a laugh!

[@mc-cricket]

It would be a bit embarrassing if they lost

[@Wally-H]

Yes, you wonder what they'd have done if Vaughan had played that shot and got out for nought!

[@ageinggingernut]

what I can't understand is Vaughan was a really decent spinner, he could've skittled them out for under 50

[@Wally-H]

I don't think he could have bowled with all that padding on

[@zeppelin1qaz]

They might have worked out who he was by his action.

[@zeeox]

@@zeppelin1qaz - I'm not sure he bowled enough for any but the most die-hard of fans to learn his action!

[@lukegessner6784]

Probably had to protect all the prosthetics. Can you imagine facing a bowler who runs in and his face falls off. Lifelong nightmares right there.

[@MichaelYeatts]

This is ace! Virgil out pulling, again! It may as well have been Ricky Ponting bowling!

[@ComediansCentre]

Imagine how Gary felt in that game

[@catlikepizzagaming8280]

Okay so he said there were 4 worse performances in history Please tell me how they were worse than zero all out

[@simonjohnston3100]

Goldsbrough weren't 0 all out. There were 5 extras on the scorecard

[@stevenknight1198]

They scored 5

[@harshaggarwal1918]

lol seeing this i remember how rohit sharma owes me 65 rupees (slightly less than a dollar) lived in mumbai at the time and saw him walking by he played 2 balls and hit the 2nd ball so far it got lost

[@frankmurphyburr3598]

I hate being Scottish, living in Scotland, a place void of cricket lovers and beautiful flat pitches in beautiful villages.

[@saccerzd]

Didn't the other team wonder why a cameraman was there?

[@zeeox]

They probably hyped it up as something reasonably newsworthy (regardless of any ringers) after the result of the last match between them.

[@manpy5504]

Classic English captain decent man highly talented batsman. Respect from india

[@douglas3286]

I bet the nickname Stringfellow stays with him.

[@nealrutgerskid]

We can safely say Vaughn presence didn't lead to a handicap. 28 out is pretty marginal performance. It was a hit or miss with or without his presence.

[@pintpot]

I'm confused. Vaughan is caught behind at 4:36 , so why is he still batting at the end?

[@Cafferssss]

he isnt?

[@Andyjzr]

@richlyEvo Thanks so much, love it!!!

[@unbiasedfan4383]

@3.20 the guy's bowling action reminds me of Darren Gough

[@aaryankeshwani8170]

That music when he got edged 😂😂😂😂

[@adamwhite4705]

Haslington cricket club bowled the Wirral cricket club out for 3, about 5 years ago

[@TommyMcCubbin]

That could have a been a 2 minute film.

[@ningthouningthoujam3373]

What if he gets out on the 1st ball???

[@nayanchowdary7929]

I like village cricket due to its beatiful grounds climate and climate

[@MrHistorian123]

I play for a team not far from Harrogate and my teammates think this is the funniest thing ever, because "Gary Watson" could be my identical twin (though he might need a slightly bigger pillow) even down to the white floppy hat. He bats a bit better than I do, though. I'm just waiting for someone to say "you're Michael Vaughan in disguise" and try to pull my face off when I walk out to play.

[@weinitzmctolley]

Out out out! Playing the wrong line. He were standing on the Piccadilly when he wanted the Waterloo !

[@Catchtwentytoo]

I cannot believe Vaughany actually got out! He'd done the hard stuff, played himself in, and then.....OUT trying to hook

[@Wally-H]

You're never entirely in on a village wicket. The ball often pops up short of a length with no pace in it, and that probably caught him out. Let's face it, he spent most of his career batting on roads, not green-tops.

[@dcmi11]

wonderfully executed, brilliant piece of viral film making at its best...

[@kaseyf27204]

There was a game in my area were no batsman made a run but they bowed 2 no balls and were 10 for 2

[@Veredge]

wAS THAT MATT RENSHAW IN THE STANDS?!

[@russellmcculloch8967]

In year 4 my team got another out for 4. Then we won first ball. They took the worst defeat of all time

[@RoadtoSubscribersWithout-fz8vy]

What do you mean, “2nd worst score”? How does a score get worst than 0?

[@soddof7972]

Road To 1000 Subscribers Without Any Videos the team scored 5 I believe, all were extras

[@RoadtoSubscribersWithout-fz8vy]

soddof oh yeah okay.

[@shazzthedon]

michael vaughn kiddy fiddled me when i was a young boy.

[@thechinmoydeka]

Lots of Love from INDIA.

[@Rajj854]

The soul of cricket

[@chrispook1975]

Nice one Gary!

[@Andyjzr]

What is the music/song when Vaughany is batting well?

[@Wally-H]

It's the theme to the old British television series Superstars

[@Jayqo]

Can’t help but to feel bad for the captain, poor bloke can’t help his team but gets all the hate

[@mrnobody4237]

Go on Dishforth, I grew up there in the 80's and 90's, it was the best little village you could imagine, nothing really ever happened, it was just brilliant. Lots of love to you all Jon Brown