The Final Word Cricket Podcast

World Cup Daily 2023, Day 6.2: Another day of batting purity, with blazing centuries from Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama up against another two from Abdullah Shafique and Mohammed Rizwan. Who wore it better? Plus find out about the most extra rendition of having cramps that the game has seen, plus an illuminating theory lesson from Ian Bishop. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find out what's fun at Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More extra, less ordinary! And go ice skating! Grab a ticket icerinkwestfieldlondon.co.uk https://www.westfield.com/united-kingdom/london https://www.westfield.com/united-kingdom/stratfordcity Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

World Cup Daily 2023, Day 6.1: England in the board with a thumping victory over the Tigers, Dawid Malan continuing his absurd run as an ODI opener - that's six tons in 23 hits, the quickest ever to that mark. They didn't go as huge as what they might've hoped in the final ten, but 364 was plenty to turn the screws on Bangladesh, Reece Topley starring upon his return to the side at Dharamshala. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find out what's fun at Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More extra, less ordinary! And go ice skating! Grab a ticket icerinkwestfieldlondon.co.uk https://www.westfield.com/united-kingdom/london https://www.westfield.com/united-kingdom/stratfordcity Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

World Cup Daily 2023, Day 5: The Battle of the Ns, as the Dutch take on the Kiwis in an alphabetical head to head. The venue is Hyderabad, with just a glimmer of sports betting enthusiasm twinkling here and there, and it's time for Mitchell Santner to shine as the Dutch can't quite work out how to approach their play. Rachin Ravindra, meanwhile, carries on his twinkling start after his World Cup hundred to open the tournament. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find out what's fun at Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More extra, less ordinary! https://www.westfield.com/united-kingdom/london https://www.westfield.com/united-kingdom/stratfordcity Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

World Cup Daily 2023, Day 4: We're going down to Chennai, where the pitch is crusty and slow, the humidity is through the roof, and visitors struggle. Australia faced India and a triple spin intervention, before the visiting fast bowlers had a triple intervention of their own. A ground full of Kohli fans all wearing Kohli shirts watched the denouement. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find out what's fun at Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More extra, less ordinary! https://www.westfield.com/united-kingdom/london https://www.westfield.com/united-kingdom/stratfordcity 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 weekly walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, we find that military service is not for everyone, or perhaps some just have a different method of enjoying it. And what's with all the non-Julio Julios? Let's look at one of the great days out, search for anything to match one specific criteria, look at openers who enjoyed doing not much, and head back to the Fake Olympics via the scorecard that might have the best group of names ever put to paper. Big calls? Were not afraid to make them. Your Nerd Pledge mixed numbers and revisits this week: 210.15 - Rob O'Neill 9.18 - Matthew Evans 4.00 - Harry Woj 2.00 - Ciaran O'Kane 5.00 - Xavier Bochat 2.60 - Ian Wolstenhome 10.00 - Nigel Browne Confirmations 4.20 - Ramaswamy 7.60 - Richard Jansz-Moore 3.16 - Helen Wilson 2.64 - Rory Seymour 1.74 - Alex Brown Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

World Cup Daily 2023, Day 3.2: The most runs ever scored in a World Cup match? Go on, then. A bananas day of cricket at Delhi as the South Africans went full Spirit of AB de Villiers on the Sri Lankans, before Kusal Mendis and Charith Asalanka produced something memorable in return. Featuring maybe the best-stupidest shot that we will see at this tournament, and some very enjoyable numbers. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find out what's fun at Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More extra, less ordinary! https://www.westfield.com/united-kingdom/london https://www.westfield.com/united-kingdom/stratfordcity Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

World Cup Daily 2023, Day 3.1: In the first of our Saturday double-header, the Tigers are on the board in style with a thumping win over a lacklustre Afghanistan at Dharamshala. Vithushan Ehantharajah joins Adam in his London backyard. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find out what's fun at Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More extra, less ordinary! https://www.westfield.com/united-kingdom/london https://www.westfield.com/united-kingdom/stratfordcity And go ice skating! Grab a ticket icerinkwestfieldlondon.co.uk Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

World Cup Daily 2023, Day 2: The Dutch were far more in this than the 81-run margin suggests but when it mattered most, Pakistan did as they had to in their tournament opener at Hyderabad. Adam has Cam Ponsonby with him in London. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find out what's fun at Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More extra, less ordinary! https://www.westfield.com/united-kingdom/london https://www.westfield.com/united-kingdom/stratfordcity Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

World Cup Daily 2023, Day 1: Expect the unexpected. The first day of this year's tournament and it was already worth the wait. Jonny Bairstow started in style, Joe Root recovered his best, Jos Buttler showed some flair, while Matt Henry and Mitchell Santner went old fashioned for success. Then it was time for Rachin Ravindra's incredible arrival party with his good buddy Devon Conway. A night a little hard to believe. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find out what's fun at Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More extra, less ordinary! https://www.westfield.com/united-kingdom/london https://www.westfield.com/united-kingdom/stratfordcity Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

World Cup Daily 2023, Day 0: It's about to land. Ten teams, a dozen cities, the best part of seven weeks. Take a deep breath and dive in with us, and the expert help of ESPNCricinfo's young gun Matt Roller. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find out what's fun at Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More extra, less ordinary! https://www.westfield.com/united-kingdom/london https://www.westfield.com/united-kingdom/stratfordcity Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 15, Episode 2: With only a day or two before the World Cup, the press releases are coming thick and stupid, and we are the only podcast with the courage to tell you why the ICC mascots should go to jail. Also this week, Hayley Matthews becomes a one-player hurricane against Australia, and a million warm-ups are played in amongst a couple of official ODIs. Which raises the question: when does the Drunk XI get its first hit-out? Your Nerd Pledge number this week: 14.00 - Debashish Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's The Mitchell Johnson Cricket Show, with our great friend and regular co-host, Bharat Sundaresan. This is a new project for the two of them, which has been some time in planning. It will be where, as they say in their intro, tell 'the story of the man behind the mo'. As that passage goes on to say, “despite his fierce exterior, there was a vulnerability underneath” and that’s something Mitch is very happy to explain and discuss, both from his playing days and the years since. We’ve had Mitch on The Final Word before at a London live show in 2019 - he was an excellent guest, and we’re sure this show is going to be a fine contribution to the cricket podcasting world. So, here’s a taste of that with episode one. Subscribe to The Mitchell Johnson Show here. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup 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 weekly walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, our second revisit special before we get into the World Cup. Have you ever heard of the Fake Olympics? How do you decide which Indian players are cult heroes and which are beyond that? What happens when a live Bannerman opportunity happens while recording our show? It's another peculiar episode of Story Time. Your Nerd Pledge revisits this week: 3.25 - Nick Dempsey 2.48 - StuG 2.60 - Ian Wolstenhome 2.64 - Rory Seymour 5.21 - Darryl Richardson 11.00 - David WFG 3.83 - Not That Tim Minchin 2.15 - Joel Emonson 4.50 - Aravind 3.16 - Helen Wilson Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 5 - Today The final revisited episode of our multi-part audio documentary on the 100-year history of cricket broadcasting brings us up to the modern day. To do so, Adam and Daniel Norcross looked at the evolution and revolution inside commentary boxes, where women were welcome on a regular basis for the first time. Also important to that tale: the thirst for deeper statistical analysis as a result of the T20 surge. With them to tell the story are Isa Guha, Adam Mountford, Lisa Sthaleker and Andy Zaltzman. Thanks for listening - we've really enjoyed going back to these. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 4 - The Disruptors: This was an awkward one to prepare because it told our stories. Not only Adam Collins and Daniel Norcross, but many others who, in one way or another, messed with the usual system - from Cricinfo and beyond. To help us tell the tale, our guests were Andrew Miller, Jarrod Kimber, Nigel Henderson and, of course, Geoff Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 15, Episode 1: Spring is springing in Melbourne, domestic cricket has begun, and you know what that means. A new season of The Final Word. Just in time for a fresh World Cup. Australia's warm-ups continue to derail in India, Shubman Gill is set to break records, David Warner is now a right-hander, Dasun Shanaka is sacked as Sri Lanka captain, India's women win a medal at storied Pingfeng, and HCL Technologies are back on the inscrutable case. Plenty happening around the world as September winds to a close. Your Nerd Pledge number this week: 3.80 - Matthew Nutley Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 3 - On TV In the third installment of our revisit of the documentary series made by Adam and Daniel Norcross during the first Covid lockdowns of 2020 we shift medium, from radio to television. With guests Harsha Bhogle, Jim Maxwell, Mark Nicholas and Dan Waddell, the episode explores how TV broadcasts evolved from humble beginnings into the mega machines they are today. Along the way, it becomes clear how the relationship between the game and vision has enjoyed an interesting evolution, with the sport challenged and influenced in unexpected ways by what is transmitted into the living rooms of viewers around the world. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup 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 weekly walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, in a bumper revisit special, have we found the cricketer whose career was most unfairly influenced by accountants? Bring your MBAs. The birth of a legendary franchise, before franchises existed. The greatest prison escape stories from regional Victoria. And have we also found the best cricket photograph of all time? You decide, on Story Time. Your Nerd Pledge revisits this week: 7.60 - Richard Jansz-Moore 2.90 - Richard Jansz-Moore 210.15 - Rob O'Neill 3.67 - Stephen Baxter 4.20 - Ramaswamy 4.31 - Michael Fallon 2.25 - Jonathan Brand 3.62 - Tim Unwin 2.01 - Richard Jones 11.40 - Chris Dobbins 2.07 - Greg Upon Thames Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 2 - Test Match Special: Our revisited documentary series began between the World Wars, where radio and cricket started their beautiful relationship. The next logical step was to chart the game's most enduring broadcast, Test Match Special. To tell a tale more complicated than one might assume are three guests who have spanned decades with the programme: commentator Jonathan Agnew, summariser Vic Marks and producer Peter Baxter. Calling the Shots is by Adam Collins and Daniel Norcross. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 14, Episode 43: What happened to... everyone, in the space of a week, with the World Cup approaching? South Africa smear Australia across the park to turn 2-0 into 2-3. Travis Head breaks his hand, Jason Roy gets punted by England, Naseem Shah's shoulder gives way for Pakistan, and India demolish Sri Lanka inside 22 overs in the Asia Cup final. In England one-day cricket, Leicestershire catches Metrobank Fever with their first trophy in decades thanks to a Guy Ritchie cameo. The County Championship and Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy near their ends. And don't forget The Final Word XI: we're playing at Dulwich CC at 4pm on Friday 22 September, swing by and say hello! Your Nerd Pledge number this week: 1.74 - Alex Brown Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 14, Episode 42: Kumar Sangakkara is not only one of the greatest cricketers to ever play the game but also one of the most thoughtful. In turn, his life in the sport is one that continues to represent a great deal more than batting and wicketkeeping, although our conversation - which this is but the first part, we have plenty more to discuss - does eventually get to the 22 yards in the middle. A joy to spend an hour with someone who has given so much to the game, and we look forward to picking up the interview for part two in the not too distant future. Enjoy. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup 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 weekly walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. For the non-milestone episode of 150, we got everybody together, recording this in front of a live online audience. They heard another update about new fave Maurice Kellerman and the shipwreck of the Viking, an incredible Dutch story from World War I thanks to a guest contributor, the blazing start of a teenage prodigy, and some recounting of the meanest scorelines ever visited by one team upon another. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 1.46 - History of the Netherlands 48.50 - Simon Wallace 6.00 - David Adamson 10.70 - Rafael Szumer 2.22 - Deener Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

England v New Zealand, 4th ODI at Lord's: Dawid Malan might’ve thought the selectors were a chance of trading him in for a flashier model a couple of weeks ago. Well, that won’t be happening any time soon, a glittering Lord’s ton from the left-hander completing the 3-1 series win for the hosts over New Zealand at Lord’s. Adam has Phil Walker (Wisden Cricket Monthly) with him, casting forward to the tournament that matters most. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 1 - How it all Began: In March 2020, the world stopped as human tragedy unfolded. To that backdrop, a lockdown project started small and got way out of hand, as Adam Collins and Daniel Norcross set about telling the story of 100 years of cricket broadcasting. Our documentary series still prompts questions to this day. So three and a half years later, we're re-releasing the episodes along with narration about selecting guests, the obsessive processes to meet deadlines, and reflections on what we learned on the way. This first cut starts where cricket on the radio did, in Australia in the 1920s, finishing where John Arlott signed off at the end of the Bradman era in 1948. Whether you're returning to Calling the Shots or finding it for the first time, we hope it hits the spot. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 14, Episode 41: A child prodigy, a five-time Ashes winner, and the man with the finest cover drive you could ever wish to see - Ian Bell's fine career brought a lot of joy to onlookers as he himself got to observe a period of immense change in English cricket, from the time of Atherton and Hussain to that of Stokes and Buttler. We catch up with him in London where he's working as an assistant coach with the New Zealand men's team - one of many coaching gigs around the world as he enjoys part two of a rich cricketing life. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

England v New Zealand, 3rd ODI at The Oval: Ben Stokes, good grief. He was retired from this format until a week ago, and today at The Oval he’s smacked England’s highest-ever score in the format. It paved the way to another thumping win over New Zealand. Phil Walker, the big boss at Wisden Cricket Monthly, joins Adam to reflect on the carnage. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 14, Episode 40: It's easy to forget, but as soon as a few good one-dayers start up again, we get right back into it. Australia have been notching wins in South Africa thanks to the return of the Suber-Sub: did you know that Labuschagne also spells La Sub Change? England's heatwave* is over, Liam Livingstone figures out how to bat for a while, the Test team will be the second-tier ODI team to play Ireland, the Asia Cup is not really happening but a few overs have been bowled, and we said it couldn't happen but Sri Lanka's women beat England in a series. Rajasthan want to buy Yorkshire, there's a full county wrap, and we're joined for a chat by James Nordin and Will Flynn from England's physical disability team. Your Nerd Pledge number this week: 3.63 - Lachy MacCorquodale Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

England v New Zealand, 2nd ODI at Southampton: It was all going so well for New Zealand, romping through England’s top order in a rain-reduced affair at Southampton. Enter Liam Livingstone, who turned the game on its head, enhancing his credentials yet further. From there, Buttler’s bowlers clicked and the Black Caps folded. Daniel Norcross joins Adam on their commentary box balcony. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's Story Time, our weekly walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. And sometimes, we have to go all in on a certain subject. Sometimes, it takes half an hour to get to the first number. Sometimes, that number means a story that leads to a story that leads to a story. So it is with a long trajectory through the middle years of Neighbours, the frank assessments of Dr Carl Kennedy, and the artistic genius behind Not Happy Jan. It will all make sense when you hear it. Maybe. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 5.05 - Brian Stratford 11.00 - David WFG 5.21 - Darryl Richardson 12.90 - Richard Jansz-Moore Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

England v New Zealand, 1st ODI at Cardiff: What a difference a week makes. Last Friday, New Zealand’s batting was in a world of pain, bowled out in 14 overs. Tonight, they chased 292 in a canter at Cardiff, unbeaten tons for Conway and Mitchell to make it so, and have now knocked off the dual world champions three times on the trot. Jeremy Coney joins Adam to consider the result in the context of the World Cup, which begins in just four weeks from now. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 14, Episode 39: It's not often we get the chance to talk to India's cricketers, especially young guns on the way up. So with Sai Sudharsan playing county cricket at Surrey, it was a treat to sit down with the 21-year-old who hit 96 from 47 balls to win the IPL final earlier this year. A classy left-hander with ambition and determination, this is a player we might see plenty of in the decade to come, and a lovely person too. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 14, Episode 38: A huge week of international men's white-ball cricket, with the Asia Cup complemented by Australia's tour of South Africa and New Zealand in England. If only West Indies had engaged Zimbabwe and Ireland in a tri-series. Mitchell Marsh is having a great time captaining Australia. There's sad news as Heath Streak dies at 49. Sri Lanka's women produce a huge upset of England, and Tanya Aldred joins the show to update us on cricket and climate change. Your Nerd Pledge number this week: 18.81 - Luke Reynolds Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

England v New Zealand, 4th T20 at Trent Bridge: Another day, another new Final Word host, with Andy Zaltzman steering the ship for the first time alongside the newly minted Jeremy Coney. And another fine day for New Zealand, fighting back to square the series after being belted first up and second up. Find out how... Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

England v New Zealand, 2nd T20, Birmingham 2023: Jeremy Coney, our newest co-host, is thrilled that New Zealand are back in the series but isn't best pleased at spilling something on his new shirt. He's with Alex Hartley at Edgbaston after the Black Caps got one back, their batting finally clicking. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup 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 weekly walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, a Zaheer Abbas extravaganza that ends up having nothing to do with Zaheer Abbas. Confused? So are we! Also, the oldest first-class cricketers, the greatest all-rounders numerically speaking, and a loop back to French cricket in the modern style. Enchanté. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 6.80 - Andrew Perrin 26.00 - George Norman 2.74 - Ian Colvin 3.50 - Sinead Bird Revisits: Rooto, Jim Robertson Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

England NZ Daily - 1st T20, Manchester 2023: If Harry Brook is the best, then how doesn't he go to India for the World Cup? We consider this, New Zealand's struggles and Cam Ponsonby getting into a WhatsApp group with Wandsworth Jofra after another mismatch, this time at Old Trafford. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Book Club 1: Tom Hicks - Bowler's Name? The Life of a Cricketing Also-Ran. Welcome to a new version of The Final Word! The plan is to feature books and authors that capture the game from a wider perspective than just the international game that we cover. So we come to our author today, Tom Hicks. In many ways he has led a charmed life as a player. A first-class skipper by virtue of Oxford University, 20 years duking it out for Dorset in the minor counties, and more games at Lord’s than any amateur could wish for, at times it feels like a lovely fairytale. Yet there’s an anonymity to Tom's time as well, reflected in the name of his most enjoyable memoir. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

England v New Zealand, 1st T20 at Durham: If the plan over these four matches is for Jos Buttler to learn a few things and for players to put pressure on selectors, that’s exactly what he got in the series opener at Durham. It was a carve up of the Kiwis, nowhere near their best. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 14, Episode 37: In the closing stages of a close ODI between two Full Member nations, a non-striker run out by the bowler is a big story but not the biggest of the match. The times are indeed changing. In other news, Heath Streak is much more alive than first anticipated, Virat Kohli's beep test is a state secret, Meg Lanning is on the comeback trail as the injury list swallows up Glenn Maxwell, Sophie Ecclestone and Tayla Vlaeminck, and the Hundred ends but not without a final helping of controversy. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup 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 weekly walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, who is the greatest French cricketer you've never heard of? This story comes thanks to historian John Peck. Daniel Norcross tries to untangle a slew of distinguished 1930s signatures on a bat, we detour via Esther Williams and 1920s silent film, develop a heavy Dutch theme, and look at some of the maddest finishes to T20 matches. An unmissable Story Time. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: Jenny - 3.10 Rooto - 2.10 Richard Jones - 2.01 Sam Brown - 4.11 Ramaswamy - 4.20 Nick Dempsey - 3.65 Solutions: Joe McDavitt, Jeremy Bourke, Jack Jorgensen Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 14, Episode 36: Today’s episode is about Scotland, a nation we’ve not given enough time to over the years. Complicating this is the current mess surrounding Cricket Scotland off the field. Following allegations from national players, the board commissioned a report with its authors concluding in July 2022 that cricket in the country was institutionally racist. The board resigned en masse, and the churn of administrators has continued as reports of racist acts continue to occur and to be investigated. While this has played out publicly and bitterly, the Scottish men’s team came within a few balls of qualifying for the one-day World Cup, while Scotland’s women are on the road to professionalism with a generation of players aspiring to qualify for World Cups themselves. It is here that we pick up our conversations featuring four guests. Toby Bailey - Cricket Scotland’s high-performance boss. Kathryn Bryce - gun all-rounder and captain of the women’s team. Matthew Cross - men’s vice-captain and a veteran behind the stumps. Pete Fitzboydon – Interim chief executive Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 14, Episode 35: As time wears relentlessly on, archives and artefacts begin to vanish. That is why this week brings about an important foray into a historical moment of great import: the cricketing intervention of Plucka Duck. Speaking of flightless birds, the Kiwis get overturned in one of the great upsets. Jasprit Bumrah is back ahead of the World Cup, the organising of which continues to be shambolic with more fixture changes, while the World Cup 'mascots' are a front for selling NFTs. Australia chop and change their white-ball squad for South Africa, the thrilling talent of Mahika Gaur will debut for England's women, with that squad drawing debate, South Africa's women are in more captaincy disarray, Harmanpreet Kaur doubles down on her Bangladesh meltdown, the Hundred and Metrobank comps roll on, and there's a new segment of Corporate Bullshit. Your Nerd Pledge number this week is: 2.46 - Randolph Brazier Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 14, Episode 34: This has been on our wish list for a long time - Adam sits down with Indian great Cheteshwar Pujara. And contrary to reports, he's far from done as a Test batter, determined to get back into the side to add to his 19 tons. In this expansive conversation at Hove, where he's dominating for Sussex in county cricket, the 35-year-old goes back to the very start, explaining how both his father and late mother put in place the foundation for a career that has bucked modern trends in the most wonderful way, whilst never forgetting that his first responsibility is to be a good person. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup 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 weekly walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. MCC Cowdrey walks down the MCC steps in the final over of the Test in 1963 against the fearsome Windies with a broken arm... one of the bravest acts in Test history, right? Daniel Norcross, in for Geoff with Adam this weekend, explains why this tale isn't quite how it seems. Then on to Chuck Fleetwood-Smith - distinctive name, striking career - and a couple of Aussie leggies, one better known than the other. Lastly, a challenge for our listeners that we reckon you'll relish. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 3.61 - Joe McDavitt 14.85 - Brendan Sharry 6.35 - Max Waters 2.85 - Jack Jorgensen 4.00 - Jeremy Bourke Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 14, Episode 33: The most predicable coming-out-of-retirement tale is complete, with Ben Stokes doing as we all knew he would – he’s going to India for the World Cup in October to help England defend their World Cup. A lot more, from our night at The Hundred for Adam’s birthday to Wahab Riaz’s own retirement from international cricket… which he hasn’t played for over three years. Throw in India getting rolled by the Windies, Steve Finn’s retirement and an existential crisis for South African Test cricket and it’s another busy week at Final Word HQ, which for the moment is Daniel Norcross’ sitting room in South London. Your Nerd Pledge number this week is: 10.60 - Sam Davies Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 14, Episode 32: One of our favourites from the earliest days of the pod, and one of the most likeable people in the game - Grace Harris. A international career that started in a hurry before stopping just as quickly, the hard-hitting Queenslander is now back in business at the top level. She’s also making the very most of her opportunities on the short-form circuit, winning fans aplenty in India during the WPL and currently calling Lord’s her home as an overseas import for the London Spirit. Most importantly, a great egg. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup 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 weekly walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. Buongiorno from the Eternal City, where history never sleeps and neither does this history program. No Italian cricket on the show but for some reason a lot of Greg Chappell. He could have been one of those bearded Roman soldiers, right? Also, the White Lightning finishes off a classic one-dayer, we squeeze Jack Hobbs' numbers into a certain shape, and do you know which woman played both for and against India? Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 2.07 - Tom Ford & Greg Upon Thames 2.60 - Ian Wolstenhome & Andrew Gardner 2.35 - Tom Lodewycke 6.28 - Rhubarb Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 14, Episode 31: Bharat is home to meet his chickens, Geoff is notionally on holiday, but that doesn't mean there aren't still some cold Ashes ashes to rake over. Usman Khawaja has a curious interpretation of what efficiency means, and Mitchell Marsh has a new temp job. Australia have a preliminary World Cup squad, India still have NFI when the World Cup matches will be, and Alex Hales has no more time for England. West Indies spring a couple of surprises on India in the shortest format, and James Rew keeps surprising everyone. Your Nerd Pledge number this week is: 7.43 - David Peacock Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 14, Episode 30: In their new book, White Hot, journalists (and Final Word regulars) Tim Wigmore and Matt Roller have documented the dominance of the England men's white-ball team, looking at how they went from relative easybeats at the 2015 World Cup in Australia to dual world champions in the same country seven years later. It's a great tale superbly told both in print and in this interview, with England's 50-over defence the next major assignment - starting in just two months from now. Pick up a copy of White Hot, The Inside Story of England Cricket’s Double World Champions: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/white-hot-9781399411639/ Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup 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 weekly walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. Back in the saddle after the Ashes, although technically this episode was not recorded after the Ashes. We bring in Wisden Cricket Monthly Phil Walker for his Mastermind subject, hear from the subject of one of the pledges himself, and take a long tour of northern Queensland trying to figure out just how far everywhere is from everywhere else. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 1.77 - Louis Jackson 3.33 - Phil Jeffs 30.98 - Ciaran O'Kane 5.30 - Steve Dodd Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices