The Final Word Cricket Podcast

World Cup Daily 2023, Day 22: England, it's been wonderful. They've been the best white-ball team for the better part of the last eight years, dual world champions and all the rest, but that ended once and for all at Bangalore with Sri Lanka handing Jos Buttler's side their biggest beating yet in a tournament where nothing has gone to plan. As for Kusal Mendis' men, they now look the most likely to throw a spanner in the works of those currently in the top all-important four. 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 21: Is this the best day of our lives? Anyone who has heard this show knows that we love Glenn Maxwell. Today, as part of a stunning Australian performance in Delhi, he stole the show. Records were set, broken, and blasted into space. Come along for the ride. 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 6: From world champions to the cusp of elimination with a month to go in this tournament - England are, by any measure, under the pump. Vithushan Ehantharajah jumps back in the co-hosting chair alongside Adam to work this through before running the rule over the new round of contracts. They also acknowledge the passing of a true champion in Bishan Bedi. Later in the show, Laura Jolly, the Women's Cricket Editor at CA.com.au, joins to talk all things Women's Big Bash League season nine, which has gotten off to an eventful start over the last week. Your Nerd Pledge number this week: 2.35 - Kate 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 20: How do you stop Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller in the final ten overs? That's going to be the question on the mind of all other contenders in this tournament after the Proteas did a job on Bangladesh at the death, hammering 144 of the best in the final ten overs. From there, despite another Mahmudullah World Cup ton, the Tigers were never in the hunt. With Geoff on the road again ahead of Australia's game tomorrow, Cam Ponsonby joins Adam. 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 19: Afghanistan and Pakistan at Chennai, and it was spin time - four of them picked by Afghanistan, who went into a slow-bowling battle with Babar Azam and Abdullah Shafique. Near the end it was IFTIMANIA, which pushed the score along. Then it was down to Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran to produce another of their opening specials. Could Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi get the job done? 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, the Oz Brothers and their religious persuasion is only missing a founding document - we know what it was, but not where it went. Adam goes back to a personal beginning, we return to a favourite among Final Word faves, and one of the great one-day contests that we nearly got to see. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 2.27 - Claire McQuillan 3.00 - Daniel Karney 5.80 - Donald Vaughan 6.82 - Richard Johnson 4.36 - Dan Crowley 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 18: With guest host Carlos Braithwaite. A man who knows all about playing with and against India's best runs his eye over yet another masterclass from Virat Kohli, who fell five runs short of matching Sachin Tendulkar's century record. That was after a massive partnership between The Sweatiest Man Alive (Darryl Mitchell) and the new kid on the block Rachin Ravindra. Bumrah and Shami ran hot, Lockie Ferguson was rapid, and the end was a close affair. 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 17.2: England. South Africa. Two sides looking to bounce back after surprise losses to lower-ranked opposition. Although after this result, those lower in the rankings might ask whether they should be rated higher than one of these teams. A ferocious batting onslaught from Heinrich Klaasen, a coming-of-age moment for Marco Jansen, a return from injury for Ben Stokes, a wild contribution from Mark Wood - it wasn't close, but it was a match with plenty of incident. Plus, Michael Atherton melting. 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 17.1: At last, Sri Lanka are on the board in this World Cup. The Dutch gave it a good shake after losing six early wickets batting first, but in the chase, the experienced campaigners got the job done with relative ease. Cam Ponsonby is with Adam in London with Geoff reporting in later today from the England-South Africa clash at Mumbai. 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 16: At the Chinnaswamy in Bengaluru without the floodlights from Waverly Park, it was all about massive opening partnerships. David Warner and Mitchell Marsh went ballistic, Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq did it in slightly more restrained style. Two huge scores, two teams needing a win - tune in. 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 15: India move to four from four with style, easily accounting for Bangladesh in Pune. And better still for fans of the men in blue, victory was raised by a huge Virat Kohli six, which took him to his 48th ODI ton - he really is seeing them beautifully. Cam Ponsonby is with Adam Collins in London while Geoff gets his computer fixed in Bangalore. 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

Season 15, Episode 5: Outside the pageantry on the field, there are currents and undercurrents influencing this World Cup beyond the play. Senior journalists Daniel Brettig and Anand Vasu join to talk about recent pieces they’ve written that have packed a punch. Also, more Sheffield Shield, more bad press releases and more success for the Australian women’s team. 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 14: Two weeks into this tournament, and only one team has an unblemished record after four games. New Zealand kept on banking points with this result over Afghanistan, though the men in blue and red had their chances to record another win against the odd but let too many slip through their fingers at Chennai. 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 13: Two major upsets in three days! It's the Dutch this time, who have had to scrap so hard to make this tournament, doing the business against South Africa at a World Cup for the second time in a row. Their captain Scott Edwards led the way with the bat in a thrilling final thrust before his ever-capable bowlers went to work to deny the Proteas, unbeaten to this point. Superb stuff at Dharamsala - a famous night for the men in Orange. With Geoff on the road in India today, Cam Ponsonby is with Adam in his kitchen. 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 12: Two World Cup finals have involved this pairing, and two World Cup campaigns this year depended heavily on this result. Both teams were winless heading into it, and Kusal Perera joined with Pathum Nissanka to give Sri Lanka a dominant start, before Adam Zampa and Mitchell Starc made their presence felt after Pat Cummins and David Warner opened things up. Then it was down to Dilshan Madushanka in a blistering new-ball spell - would it be enough? 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 11: England rolled into Delhi expecting to keep on rolling after Afghanistan, and it did not quite work out the way they expected. Rahmanullah Gurbaz batted explosively, the usual mid-innings collapse happened via Adil Rashid, then Ikram Alikhil produced something. At which point it was time for Mujeeb and Rashid Khan to do their work alongside some fast-bowling magic. A stunning night at the Kotla. 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, our many recent tales of crooks and jailbirds add three more notable entries, from plotters to absconders. We try to track down a family connection, look at a family's number, and solve a statistical possibility about the most successful failures. Plus, find out what they inhale on a surf town's dancefloor - it's Story Time. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 15.40 - Anit Manudhane 2.15 - Nuwan Jayawickreme 60.00 - Ken Edwards 3.51 - Sean, Carmel and Noah Smith 2.63 - Byron Frost 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 10: India and Pakistan! That's the big one. Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique started well. Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan kept it going. Then Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav happened, setting the stage for Rohit Sharma with a higher degree of difficulty than you might have thought. All in front of a full house... well, kinda. 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 9: After missing two games, it was time for Big Daddy Kane Williamson. But don't call it a comeback - he's been here for years. Mahmudullah did himself a mischief, the old firm of Shakib and Mushfiqur Rahim did the job again, Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson bowled wheels, Mitchell Santner finally got a game for Chennai Super Kings, and Darryl Mitchell defended his title as the Sweatiest Man Alive. 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 8: Two games in to this World Cup, and the Australians are in trouble. Strange selections being made, players with no backups struggling for effect. Meanwhile for South Africa, Quinton de Kock is flying, Aiden Markram is following him, Lungi Ngidi and Kagiso Rabada are working in tandem. A stunning result at Lucknow. 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 7: It was an important first innings from an Afghanistan team that manged to counter one of its consistent weaknesses. But then it changed abruptly into National Rohit Sharma today, resulting in a statsgasm to rival any we've had. Find out how it all unfolded. 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

Season 15, Episode 4: In an effort to spend more time talking about the Sheffield Shield this Australian summer, we have Louis Cameron, one of the best in the business, with us to set up the season. Before that, we’re searching for the joy in this World Cup, celebrating Hayley Matthews and pondering what the future might hold for Jake Fraser-McGurk. Your Nerd Pledge number this week: 2.06 - Tom Sloan 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 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