Freddie Represents Ireland at U19 Cricket World Cup

Shrewsbury is celebrating the remarkable achievements of Freddie (UVI, Ch), who recently represented Ireland at the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup, delivering an outstanding performance on the international stage.

Freddie finished the tournament as Ireland’s second leading run scorer, combining confident batting with impressive work behind the stumps as wicketkeeper. His performances helped Ireland compete strongly against some of the best young cricketers in the world and marked an exciting milestone in a journey that began when he joined Shrewsbury in the Third Form.

Speaking about Freddie's achievements, Head of Cricket Will Hughes, praised both his talent and his dedication to developing his game.

“We are incredibly proud of Freddie and what he has achieved in the last few weeks,” said Mr Hughes. “Representing Ireland at the World Cup and finishing as their second leading run scorer is a tremendous achievement. He has made the most of every opportunity available to him here, from the facilities and coaching to the experience of playing high-level school cricket.”

Freddie's development has been shaped by a combination of school, county and international coaching, alongside his own commitment to improving his game.

“He has worked closely with coaches here at school, with Cheshire and with Ireland, and has really maximised their expertise and knowledge,” Mr Hughes added. “He has taken that learning and turned it into his own approach, making excellent progress and earning his international recognition.”

Freddie described the moment he discovered he had been selected for the World Cup squad as unforgettable.

“I remember getting the email from my Ireland coach saying I’d been selected,” he said. “I called my family straight away. It had been an aim of mine for a long time, so to know I was going to a World Cup was amazing.”

Competing at a global tournament brought a new level of intensity and excitement.

“The standard was different,” Freddie explained. “Bowlers running in harder, batters hitting the ball further — you can tell you’re playing against the best players in the world. But it was seriously fun at the same time. I loved the challenge.”

Freddie also balanced the demands of international competition with his A Level studies, working closely with teachers at Shrewsbury to remain on track academically during his time away.

“All the teachers were really supportive,” he said. “I had regular online meetings to go through work and could always email for help, so I always felt like I knew what I needed to be doing.”

Looking ahead, Freddie hopes his World Cup experience will be just the beginning.

“That tournament really cemented the fact that I want to play professional cricket,” he said. “Knowing that I could be part of something like that for years to come makes me want to work even harder.”

Reflecting on his journey so far, Freddie emphasised the importance of enjoying the game.

“For any young cricketers, I’d just say enjoy it,” he said. “The more you love the game, the more you want to do it — and the better you become.”

You can watch an interview with Freddie and Cricket Professional Adam Shantry here:

Shrewsbury has a strong tradition of developing international cricketers, with former pupils including Izzy Wong, James Taylor and Ed Barnard going on to represent England and England Under-19s in recent years. Freddie's achievements add another proud chapter to that legacy.

The School looks forward to following Freddie's continued progress and wishes him every success for the seasons ahead.