The Final Word Cricket Podcast

Season 16, Episode 31: It's Adam's birthday, and another decade approaches. So too do the 2028 Olympic Games, with cricket's moment coming up. Will it be better received than Raygun? We are on the side of both. Also this week, the complexities of Graham Thorpe's life, Ben Stokes to miss the Sri Lanka series, more movement in the England squad, West Indies escape from South Africa, Ireland shock Sri Lanka, and England's counties talk paywalls. As an extra this week, Mohammad Isam checks in about the unresolved questions for Bangladesh cricket under the country's new administration. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Check out Westfield London and Stratford City. Download the app: westfield.com/united-kingdom/app Get the Nord VPN discount - nordvpn.com/tfw Find all our links at linktr.ee/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's Story Time, our walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, the little-known twist of how cricket's most famous mathematicians nearly ended up with a Hawaiian feel – one we’re determined to embrace from this point forward. We then get into WA’s remarkable first Shield season and the characters who made it so. Later, the rarity and oddity of a very unusual ton, before a father-son pledge about a famous debut from a very not-famous player. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 6.48 - Cameron M 22.13 - Monique Beadles 10.30 - Leigh Rees 6.78 - Scott & Finn Mackie Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get live show tickets or other links at linktr.ee/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 17, Episode 11: Eating disorders are not something associated with cricketers, especially opening bowlers. But this was the lot of in life for Ethan Bamber during the pandemic: trying to exert control, for a time he lost it entirely. This is far from the whole picture when it comes to a very capable seamer who is on the move from Lord’s to Edgbaston after seven seasons at Middlesex – the 25-year-old has one of the more interesting back stories on the circuit. It shapes the kind and caring human being that he is, at odds with the perception of most who try and take stumps out the ground for a living. He joined Adam at their local café in North London to take stock on what has already been and consider what comes next. A most impressive young man. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get live show tickets or other links at linktr.ee/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 17, Episode 10: Geoff and Adam are back together at last, after 5000 miles on American roads and a lot more distance in the psyche. After catching up on events there, we have big announcements for our live shows, thoughts on the many unlucky Australian openers, the suddenly inflated worries facing the touring Indian Test side, Michael Neser's terrible luck, and the World Test Championship maths. Pakistan smash Australia, then get locked out of their own Champions Trophy tournament. Then there's some weird stuff with Victorians in Guyana, and a wild week in the WBBL. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get live show tickets or other links at linktr.ee/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Greatest Season That Was - The Final Frontier episode 3 – Damien Fleming: During the last Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia, the pulsating summer of 2020-21, The Greatest Season That Was pod focused its attention on the relationship between the cricketing giants over the decades, some 20 years from the staggering 2001 encounter in India. The previous time the sides met was in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney during the season of 1999-2000. Determined to build something special under Steve Waugh having just won the World Cup, they were on a roll and determined to, as our guest Damien Fleming puts it, sing the song after every Test that summer. Steamrolling India, they did just that. At the peak of his powers then and there, the swing ace spoke with Adam, Dan Brettig and Shannon Gill about the series before the epic. Enjoy all eight parts of Final Frontier over the next couple of months. Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday And please hyperlink over ‘sort you super out with CBUS’ with this: https://www.cbussuper.com.au/ Go Ambassador cruising with Goochy, Aggers, Blowers and Alex Tudor from December 12-19! Pick up 10% off with finalword10 at checkout here - www.ambassadorcruiseline.com Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find all our links at linktr.ee/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's Story Time, our walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, how did Warney nearly become the PM’s XI captain? Via texts with the PM, of course. It’s a fixture we spend some time on, including going back to Bradman and Lillee’s final Australian fixtures. But what about the tie The Don was captained just before his mighty First Class career ended? This is riveting stuff for both Adam and Bharat Sundaresan. Also featured: the epic end to Bill Ponsford’s Test career, Larry Gomes’ tremendous record in Australia, the West Wing cricket bat from the Queen and the glory days of the ODI tri-series. A fun show. Enjoy. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 7.00 - Riley Campbell 2.05 - Jonathan Brand 4.51 - Richie B Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday And please hyperlink over ‘sort you super out with CBUS’ with this: https://www.cbussuper.com.au/ Go Ambassador cruising with Goochy, Aggers, Blowers and Alex Tudor from December 12-19! Pick up 10% off with finalword10 at checkout here - www.ambassadorcruiseline.com Find all our links at linktr.ee/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 17, Episode 9: A career total of just 10 Test Matches belies the imprint made on the game by Alex Tudor. A quick bowler who burst onto the scene in an Ashes series and made his presence felt right away, he was always good enough to mix it with the best. Injuries curtailed his international career, but his love for cricket – and continued involvement in it – has never ceased. He spoke with Adam and gave a feel for the lovely company he will be on Ambassador’s Cricket Legends Cruise in December along with Graham Gooch, Jonathan Agnew and Henry Blofeld. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Go Ambassador cruising with Goochy, Aggers, Blowers and Alex Tudor from December 12-19! Pick up 10% off with finalword10 at checkout here - www.ambassadorcruiseline.com Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday And please hyperlink over ‘sort you super out with CBUS’ with this: https://www.cbussuper.com.au/ Find all our links at linktr.ee/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 17, Episode 8: The format of the World Test Championship has been a stick to whack it with since day dot. However, the unintended consequence of the model in place has become a feature not a flaw with five teams now in the hunt thanks to New Zealand’s stunning three-nil victory over India. For the first time in a long time, Adam has Izzy Westbury (from an undisclosed location) with him to consider what this all means along with McDreamy McSweeney’s McMentum, the first Women’s FTP, the ball tampering incident that wasn’t and a great deal more. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Go Ambassador cruising with Goochy, Aggers, Blowers and Alex Tudor from December 12-19! Pick up 10% off with finalword10 at checkout here - www.ambassadorcruiseline.com Find all our links at linktr.ee/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Greatest Season That Was - The Final Frontier episode 2 - Gavin Robertson: During the last Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia, the pulsating summer of 2020-21, The Greatest Season That Was pod focused its attention on the relationship between the cricketing giants over the decades, some 20 years from the staggering 2001 encounter in India. Three years earlier, the dynamic was very different with Mark Taylor’s side put to the sword by the hosts in the first couple of Tests by a series of supreme batters in the form of their life. But one bowler who found a way to make it work was a journeyman spinner, Gavin Robertson. His story was a beauty: from the Centrelink queue to a terrific Chennai debut, he made every moment count. He told the tale the Aussies’ 1998 tour, and his life in the game, to Adam, Dan Brettig and Shannon Gill. Enjoy all eight parts of this series across the next couple of months. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday And please hyperlink over ‘sort you super out with CBUS’ with this: https://www.cbussuper.com.au/ Go Ambassador cruising with Goochy, Aggers, Blowers and Alex Tudor from December 12-19! Pick up 10% off with finalword10 at checkout here - www.ambassadorcruiseline.com Find all our links at linktr.ee/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's Story Time, our walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, our love affair with Wangaratta grows through the story of a journeyman in the wickets against the Windies. With Daniel Norcross with Adam, long answers are inevitable and roads less travelled too – what would Australia be like had Matthew Hayden taken the chance to run for parliament? A rare triple header is tackled ton as well – a new number revisit and confirmation all in one, with (Plucka) Ducks, (Vasbert) Drakes and (Jon) Davison together at last. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 4.81 - Dane Hansted 6.82 - Richard Johnson 2.36 & 2.46 – Randolph Brazier 3.59 - Tim Unwin 7.35 - Tobi Wilson Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday And please hyperlink over ‘sort you super out with CBUS’ with this: https://www.cbussuper.com.au/ Go Ambassador cruising with Goochy, Aggers, Blowers and Alex Tudor from December 12-19! Pick up 10% off with finalword10 at checkout here - www.ambassadorcruiseline.com Find all our links at linktr.ee/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 17, Episode 7: It’s a complicated cricketing universe – more by the month. But the joys of a Test Match, however unexpected, remain unrivalled as we saw in India and Pakistan this week. For this conversation, Adam has fellow romantic Bharat Sundaresan with him. They start with a hectic week of speculation in Australia (along with retirements, contracts, collapses and suspension cessations!) ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. They then drift into a circuitous lap around the world. And spliced into the middle of all this, Geoff Lemon files an update from the US election campaign trail. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Go Ambassador cruising with Goochy, Aggers, Blowers and Alex Tudor from December 12-19! Pick up 10% off with finalword10 at checkout here - www.ambassadorcruiseline.com Get your Nord VPN discount - nordvpn.com/tfw Find all our links at linktr.ee/thefinalword - including our Australia Live Show tickets! Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 17, Episode 6: Before Ben Duckett boarded the plane to Pakistan, where he started in blistering form, the England Test opener sat down with Adam and Geoff in London. On the cusp of turning 30, he’s in all probability at the mid-way point of his career and never been more established as an international batter. Having first came across Duckett in a tour game nearly a decade ago, the conversation goes to that period of his career, when he first banged the door down to earn England Test caps in his early 20s, through to difficult times in the wilderness, a change of county and forcing his way in a second time. A nice chat to do – he gave us plenty. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Go Ambassador cruising with Goochy, Aggers, Blowers and Alex Tudor from December 12-19! Pick up 10% off with finalword10 at checkout here - www.ambassadorcruiseline.com Get your Nord VPN discount - nordvpn.com/tfw Find all our links at linktr.ee/thefinalword - including our Australia Live Show tickets! Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's Story Time, our walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, a special hosting combination with Andy Zaltzman on the Nerd Pledge tools for the first time since September 2019 (!), with his old mate Daniel Norcross. And what did they find? Well, for one, that left-handers can be ugly too. From there, a bit of Deano and a lick of Davo. Later, Greigy’s off-spin revival and Big Bird’s fine avoidance. Enjoy! Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 1.05 - Bala Sivaraman 25.00 - Tom Stewart 7.38 - Evil Scootus 5.77 - Emily Price Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Go Ambassador cruising with Goochy, Aggers, Blowers and Alex Tudor from December 12-19! Pick up 10% off with finalword10 at checkout here - www.ambassadorcruiseline.com Find all our links at linktr.ee/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Glenn Maxwell (and Adam) – TFW Book Club You might’ve heard… we did a book. It was a team effort. The Showman, of course, has Maxi telling the story of a remarkable year in his life leading up his World Cup miracle, within his already fascinating career in the global game. Adam co-authored it with him through the course of 2024. And Geoff was the editor, putting the finishing touches on the manuscript. Together, they caught up ahead of the book’s release (30 October) to look back on the process and discuss the sections of the book that are likely to generate the most amount of attention. Be sure to buy yourself a copy! It’s available for pre-order everywhere. That includes the audio book, which has been read by friend of the pod Rhys Muldoon. https://www.amazon.com.au/Showman-Glenn-Maxwell/dp/1761428209 Go Ambassador cruising with Goochy, Aggers, Blowers and Alex Tudor from December 12-19! Pick up 10% off with finalword10 at checkout here - www.ambassadorcruiseline.com Get your Nord VPN discount - nordvpn.com/tfw Find all our links at linktr.ee/thefinalword - including our Australia Live Show tickets! Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 17, Episode 5: David Warner is at it again - available for selection! But no, that won't be happening. There's nobody better to be co-hosting with Adam than Alex Malcolm from ESPNcricinfo, who is across every inch of the Sheffield Shield at this fascinating time of the year. From there, reflections from the Women's World Cup, a lap around the Test-playing world, and further concerns about the health of the global game despite CA's strong financial story. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Go Ambassador cruising with Goochy, Aggers, Blowers and Alex Tudor from December 12-19! Pick up 10% off with finalword10 at checkout here - www.ambassadorcruiseline.com Get your Nord VPN discount - nordvpn.com/tfw Find all our links at linktr.ee/thefinalword - including our Australia Live Show tickets! Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's Story Time, our walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, it’s the formidable combination of Bharat Sundaresan and Daniel Norcross - born for these roles. Follow the tale of Geoff Chubb, the South African on the Lord's honours board who was imprisoned by Rommel, then look at India’s forgotten victory over the West Indies that was the catalyst for Fire in Babylon. Later, they explore the curiously dismissed career of Dane Vilas and Collis King’s World Cup winning innings. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 2.66 - James 7.75 - Joe Scott-Hartley 3.13 - Gopal B 6.51 - Peter T Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Go Ambassador cruising with Goochy, Aggers, Blowers and Alex Tudor from December 12-19! Pick up 10% off with finalword10 at checkout here - www.ambassadorcruiseline.com Find all our links at linktr.ee/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Women's T20 World Cup, semi-final 2 - New Zealand/West Indies: No matter what, there will be a new team winning the Women's T20 World Cup with New Zealand holding off the Windies in a thriller to earn the right to play South Africa on Sunday. Daniel Norcross and Cam Ponsonby are two very excited co-hosts - join them for their instant reaction from Sharjah. Go Ambassador cruising with Goochy, Aggers, Blowers and Alex Tudor from December 12-19! Pick up 10% off with finalword10 at checkout here - www.ambassadorcruiseline.com Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your Nord VPN discount - nordvpn.com/tfw Find all our links at linktr.ee/thefinalword - including our Australia Live Show tickets! Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Women's T20 World Cup, semi-final 1 - South Africa/Australia: South Africa stunned the red-hot favourites Australia to win with ease and advance to Sunday’s final. It was an all-round performance for the ages from the Proteas, with Australia left to ponder how it all went so wrong. Cam Ponsonby and Daniel Norcross discuss an incredible result. Go Ambassador cruising with Goochy, Aggers, Blowers and Alex Tudor from December 12-19! Pick up 10% off with finalword10 at checkout here - www.ambassadorcruiseline.com Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your Nord VPN discount - nordvpn.com/tfw Find all our links at linktr.ee/thefinalword - including our Australia Live Show tickets! Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 17, Episode 4: After all the time we spent talking about Cam Green's back last week, it has now ruled him out of the summer, and opened up a spot for openers. Away we go again, with all the Australian Shield performances, Australia A picks, and their ramifications. Also this week, Pakistan go full Pakistan after England's ridiculous win, Shakib goes full Facebook brain while retiring, Sanju Samson goes bosh, and plenty more besides. Bharat Sundaresan joins Geoff. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Go Ambassador cruising with Goochy, Aggers, Blowers and Alex Tudor from December 12-19! Pick up 10% off with finalword10 at checkout here - www.ambassadorcruiseline.com Get your Nord VPN discount - nordvpn.com/tfw Find all our links at linktr.ee/thefinalword - including our Australia Live Show tickets! Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Women's T20 World Cup, Day 12 - New Zealand/Pakistan: After an early wobble that raised India’s hopes, New Zealand steadied the ship against Pakistan to win comfortably through to a semi-final that not many had predicted at the start of the tournament. Daniel Norcross and Cameron Ponsoby review the action from Dubai as we near the business end of this tournament. Go Ambassador cruising with Goochy, Aggers, Blowers and Alex Tudor from December 12-19! Pick up 10% off with finalword10 at checkout here - www.ambassadorcruiseline.com Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your Nord VPN discount - nordvpn.com/tfw Find all our links at linktr.ee/thefinalword - including our Australia Live Show tickets! Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices