The Final Word Cricket Podcast

Season 8, Ep 28: Two years ago the Seven Network bought TV rights to great fanfare. Now they're refusing to pay. The free-to-air broadcaster has Cricket Australia in a tough spot, by withholding the cash required to run the game unless CA agrees to rewrite the contract. And it all sounded so rosy when both parties were talking up the hundreds of millions to be spent not long ago. We have ESPNcricinfo's Daniel Brettig on to talk the details of what could turn into a legal war – or an old-fashioned stick-up job. Plus the one-day series between England and Australia, a bit of Nerd Pledge, and some dark days too for the ECB. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this show: 1.07 – David Brooks. 1.45 – Travis Clark. 2.56 – Mick Flurry Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Get your Wisden Cricket Monthly discount at bit.ly/wcmtfw CBUS Super is at cbussuper.com.au The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller on the Bad Producer Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Heroes and villains. Rational or fair or otherwise, we have them on Story Time. Geoff meets his nemesis, Adam explains the greatest work of the greatest, we solve a Netherlands conundrum, and try to get lateral. Afterwards is a reboot of our conversation with Universe Jos – recorded at Lord’s during last year’s World Cup – to learn about the ridiculous things he does with bat in hand. Your new Nerd Pledge numbers: 1.76 – Luke Kneebone 2.54 – Deepthi Akila 2.94 – Andy Taylor 3.10 – Ethan Morgan 1.58 – David Nathan & Jesse G 1.14 – Alex KP For your two discount Nightwatchman compilations, go to: bit.ly/nwaussie and enter the code tfw10 bit.ly/tfwbest and enter the code tfw20 Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Check out CBUS Super at cbussuper.com.au The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller on the Bad Producer Podcast Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 8, Ep 27: That was quite the choke. Australia's T20 series against England started with a dominant position that somehow turned into a loss. England bossed the second, and Australia got one back via Mitchell Marsh when both teams were changed up for the third. Adam came straight from the comm box to this show via a few wrong turns on the motorway with all the details. In other news this week, Dawlat Zadran lit up the Afghan T20 league with some lovely work at the non-striker's end, the last of the class of 2005 in the shape of Ian Bell said goodbye to first-class cricket, the women's Big Bash has a schedule, Yuvraj Singh is looking Australia's way, plus some overdue Happy Birthday Sachin and plenty more. Your Nerd Pledge numbers on this show: 2.04 – Simon Kozlina 19.97 – Hugh Kenney-Herbert Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com For your two discount Nightwatchman compilations, go to: bit.ly/nwaussie and enter the code tfw10 bit.ly/tfwbest and enter the code tfw20 Check out CBUS Super at cbussuper.com.au The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller on the Bad Producer Podcast Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pat Cummins is a special cricketer and a great fella. We had a lovely time talking with him in Derby this time last year, decked out in his skin-tight and long-sleeved Australian jumper - an image you quickly forget. En route to that, it’s a story time with a lesson: age is no barrier for tweakers with mad skills. Some sad tales from the history of the game, some fun ones too - it’s always a mixed bag when we hit record on the weekend. Your new Nerd Pledge numbers: 3.83 – Evan Willis 2.22 – Geoff Mouritz 1.16 – History of the Netherlands 4.72 – Chris Arkle 1.64 – Jake Schmidt 2.99 – Troy Smith Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Check out CBUS Super at cbussuper.com.au The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller on the Bad Producer Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 8, Ep 26: Trent Woodhill is one of the most versatile people in cricket: coach, trusted mentor, adviser, ideas man. This was a good time to pick his brain, from the bubble in Southampton where he is currently on tour as one of Justin Langer’s assistant coaches. Before getting to him, with Daniel Norcross riding shotgun, we looked at the T20 internationals this week and next, reviewed the legacy of Colin Graves as ECB supremo and got Ben Horne on the phone to look at Cricket Australia’s latest brawl. Your new Nerd Pledge numbers: 2.09 – Peter Hickey & James Roder. 2.85 – James Power. Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Message from anywhere on earth with your ZOLEO, at zoleo.com The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller on the Bad Producer Podcast Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Story Time! We have a new chat with England opener Jason Roy about missing the IPL, which comes after the customary weekend wander through cricket history. In this episode, the link between ancient spinners Don Blackie and Bert Ironmonger, the record that Sachin couldn’t reach, Jenny Owens turning the ball both ways, Virat Kohli doubling up, the endless quest for 557, Curtly Ambrose cuts sick at the MCG, and one of our favourites in Bobby Peel is drunk in the shower again. Your new Nerd Pledge numbers: 4.44 – Geoff 5.18 – Dominic Richards 2.48 – Michael Pfitzner 5.55 – Daniel Hill 2.13 – Naama and Geoff Shang Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller on the Bad Producer Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 8, Ep 25: That is the sound of inevitability. No matter who didn't believe it, James Anderson's march did not stop towards the mark that only three spinners had achieved before, 600 wickets in Tests. The Final Word this weeks looks at his work on the last day of the Pakistan-England series, as well as others like Azhar, Buttler, Crawley, Babar and Rizwan. The Australian men take the first ever chartered flight from Perth to Derby direct, the Australian women prepare for New Zealand, the Australian schedule remains a game of Guess Who, the West Indies women fill the breach in England, and Ricky Ponting goes toe to toe with the Patron Saint of The Final Word, Ravi Ashwin. Righteousness will prevail. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this episode: 1.24 – Jesse G. 2.57 – Adam Hewitt & Julian Campbell. 4.69 – Rohit Ramesh. Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Check out CBUS Super at cbussuper.com.au Get your Wisden Cricket Monthly discount at bit.ly/wcmtfw The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller on the Bad Producer Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Story Time! This week let us take you through more tales of Ravi "Careless Whisper" Bopara, the human sax solo; some Sehwag madness, an Anzac connection; the 2005 end of Australian Ashes dominance for the women's teams; the least successful promotion to Test level; a reason to love the Gabba; and some excursions back to the Wills Trophy when India used to host every team that was available. Our encore interview is broadcaster Natalie Germanos in a wide-ranging conversation we had at Lord's in 2019 during the men's World Cup. Lots of revisits and correspondence, including our most special piece yet. Your Nerd Pledge numbers are: 3.19 – Gus Crouch. 8.71 – Daniel March. 4.06 – Basab Majumdar. 2.19 – Jack A & Harry Howard. 5.47 – Dan Walsh. 4.10 – Ben N. Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Check out CBUS Super at cbussuper.com.au Help out the Lord’s Taverners isol8 campaign: www.lordstaverners.org The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller on the Bad Producer Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 8, Ep. 24: The great MSD has put the cue in the rack, for India at least. In the circumstances, there was nobody better to get back on the show than Bharat Sundaresan, author of The Dhoni Touch. Earlier in the show, we got our light-meters out to measure the debate after a frustrating second Test between England and Pakistan at Southampton. That's where Australia's men are heading, their white-ball squad named during the week. Unfortunately the same can't be said for South Africa's women. We also return to the summer of 1894-95. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 6.14 - Jeremy Bourke 1.99 - John Leather and Cumbrian 4.75 - Cameron Manning Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Check out CBUS Super at cbussuper.com.au Message from anywhere on earth with your ZOLEO, at zoleo.com The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller on the Bad Producer Podcast Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hanif Mohammad! Brian Lara! We advance from 499 to 501 patrons and we couldn’t be happier. Your support has been quite outstanding. We celebrate in the usual way on Story Time with a long Nerd Pledge session. After that, we go back in time to Perth in December 2017 when we interviewed former England spinner, esteemed journalist and radio commentator Vic Marks. Appropriately so - he’s a man of stories. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 2.90 – Sam Littlejohn & Will Day 2.91 – Satchmo Distel & Dane Hanstead 4.40 – Michael Reichstein 7.35 – Gregory Wellman 3.11 – Brook Quinn Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Help out the Lord’s Taverners isol8 campaign: www.lordstaverners.org The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller on the Bad Producer Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 8, Ep 23: Comebacks don’t get much more stylish. England's memorable turnaround in Manchester came when Woakes and Jos Buttler produced a partnership that will be long celebrated. Sleep deprived at both ends of the show, we run a half-closed eye over the Test that was, as well as Ireland’s one-day win over England just beforehand. The Women’s World Cup has been shunted back a year for reasons that don’t stack up. Time for a bit of Nerd Pledge, check in with Sachin, and remind you that months come in sets of twelve per year. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 6.43 – Sarah Berman 5.31 – Ryan Smith 2.26 – Elise Gane & Sam Ashworth Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Get your Wisden Cricket Monthly discount at bit.ly/wcmfinal The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller on the Bad Producer Podcast Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's our new show! Or, same show, new name. STORY TIME will be the weekend wander through the weeds, where we get into some of the more obscure and less obscure corners of cricket history to find the stories therein. This weekend, boxers and communists who were not jazz saxophonists, what really happened on Adam's 21st birthday, more info on which cricketers have punched selectors, and plenty more. Our encore interview this week is with Barney Douglas, director of brilliant cricket documentary The Edge, which is on the BBC iPlayer right now if you want to watch it, and Felix White of the Maccabees who wrote the musical score. So much Nerd Pledge! Your numbers: 4.45 – Rory Denis & Jack Firth 3.71 – David Windram 1.81 – Peter Halton 6.79 – Anna Forsyth & Jono Baruch 1.35 – Owen Brasier & datGriffin Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Help out the Lord’s Taverners isol8 campaign: www.lordstaverners.org The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller on the Bad Producer Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 8, Ep 22: As Ireland, one of cricket’s green machines, prepare to leave England, the other, Pakistan are ready to start their Test series at Old Trafford. We speak to Zainab Abbas, journalist and television presenter, about Azhar Ali’s men before looking at her own remarkable rise to fame in recent years. Earlier, we look at the comings and goings at both Cricket Australia and the WBBL while thinking ahead to the likely tour of England that Australia’s men will be making in September. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 2.10 – Mark Fenton 5.57 – Rob O’Neill Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Message from anywhere on earth with your ZOLEO, at zoleo.com The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller on the Bad Producer Podcast Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One of our most heartfelt interviews with the man behind the music of The Final Word, and pioneer of the Australian hip hop scene, Urthboy. Of course, being a weekend edition of the show, you better believe we have a massive round of correspondence and Nerd Pledge to get us in the mood. What should we call our second show each week? Jump into our Patreon DMs and let us know! Your Nerd Pledge numbers are: 2.07 – Jamo. 7.54 – Michael Brown. 9.41 – Mark Henderson. Guess away. Our answers are in the episode. Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Message from anywhere on earth with your ZOLEO, at zoleo.com The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller on the Bad Producer Podcast Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 8, Ep 21: The Irish are coming, and what better time than before their games against England to sit down with their CEO Warren Deutrom to tell us their story from St Patrick’s Day at the 2007 World Cup to the present day as a Test nation. The problems and challenges though are as steep as they have ever been. Before that, Stuart Broad takes his 500th Test wicket as England bounce back to beat West Indies 2-1, Ravi Ashwin makes himself the patron saint of this show, and Ian Botham responds to yet another gong in unimpressive style. Winnie is awake, and Adam is soon to be going into the bubble. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 7.05 – Alan Edgar. 3.76 – Peter Lewis. 1.18 – Tobias and Zak. Guess away. Our answers are in the episode. Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Message from anywhere on earth with your ZOLEO, at zoleo.com The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller on the Bad Producer Podcast Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"I certainly want to win this World Cup, but I can live with myself if we don’t," said Jimmy Neesham a few weeks before that famous final. One of the funniest and sharpest minds in cricket, he was also beautifully honest about his perfection and the unhappiness he had put himself through. "It started a downward spiral for me where my expectations were so far beyond reasonable that it wasn't possible for me to have a good day." One of the most perceptive conversations we've had on The Final Word, during a key few weeks in cricket history. Our cover image today is Boonie, who recently wrapped up a long and happy life getting on the beers. Best friend of Paul, Melsie, and Alby. Also, the weekend show is morphing into The Final Word History Hour, or whatever we end up calling it. That means lots of Nerd Pledge. 2.14 – Tamra Palmer 7.40 – Daniel Kelly & Stephen Sargeant 2.13 – Skye Raye 2.24 – Desmond Cave 2.35 – Hamish Colley 16.50 – FP Hicks Plus our Julio pledges from Graham Hartley, Alex Durie, and John Landsell. Thanks everyone, you're the best. Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Help out the Lord’s Taverners and their isol8 campaign: www.lordstaverners.org The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller on the Bad Producer Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 8, Ep 20: It’s 1-1 and the Wisden Trophy is the series that keeps on giving. Another last-day finish, another good fight, another fine bit of comedic timing from Stuart Broad. We go through the best and and rest. An ICC meet has finally taken place, and it’ll be WorldCuppapalooza in the next three years now the 2020 edition has been delayed. India’s women can’t get to England with travel bans, Sachin has been busy as ever, Barry Jarman left this plane of existence, the deeply crook House of Lords welcomes David Brent as a member, and there’s of course a dash of Nerdism. Your Nerd Pledge numbers are: 2.14 – Tamra Palmer 3.45 – Nicholas Gordon 2.64 – Kerry Sandhu Guess away. Our answers are in the episode. Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Get your Wisden Cricket Monthly discount at bit.ly/wcmtfw Check out CBUS Super at cbussuper.com.au The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller on the Bad Producer Podcast Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This time last year, we sat down with Kate Cross before a T20 International and she shared with us the details of some of the toughest moments of her sporting life. As part of our relationship with Lord’s Taverners, who are focussed squarely on mental health during this particularly challenging time, we thought this would be a good weekend to pop that conversation up again. Before coming to that, a big round of Nerd Pledge spanning 130 years of cricket history. Your Nerd Pledge numbers are: 4.90 – Phil Smith 1.32 – Bryan R. Caine 2.44 – Joel Wilson and Tom-Andre Andersen 3.51 – Jeremy Nash 1.29 – Guy Donovan Guess away. Our answers are in the episode. Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Get involved with the Lord’s Taverners important Isol8 campaign. Check out CBUS Super at cbussuper.com.au The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller on the Bad Producer Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 8, Ep 19: Exactly a year from that famous day at Lord's we're joined by Nick Hoult to discuss his new book that gives all the detail you didn't know about England’s triumph. We also, thankfully, get to talk about the first Test match of the covid era, as the West Indies rallied gloriously to knock off the hosts late on the final afternoon at Southampton. What a joy to have it back. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week are: 3.92 – Cam Tero. 4.05 – Matthew Share. 3.31 – David Varley. Guess away. Our answers are in the episode. Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Check out CBUS Super at cbussuper.com.au Call in from around the world with your ZOLEO at Zoleo.com The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller on the Bad Producer Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 8, Ep 18. The end of the 2019 World Cup will remain inseparable from Ian Smith's description of it. He explained in depth to the Calling the Shots documentary how he has tried to prepare for and deliver the big moments, and his interview was too good not to share. Here is the full conversation, after some cricket history at the start to get us going. Our Nerd Pledge numbers this week are: 4.33 – Liz Brant & Jack Regester 2.06 – Paul Murphy & Sam King 2.16 – Harry Howard 3.04 – Adam Jones 5.44 – Rob (from the) Rich Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com CBUS Super is at cbussuper.com.au To learn more about the Lord’s Taverners and their work in the community, visit www.lordstaverners.org. The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller on the Bad Producer Podcast Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 8, Ep 17: Shout it from the rooftops! This week, England host West Indies in the first of three behind-closed-doors Tests and we couldn’t be happier on The Final Word. Vithushan Ehantharajah joins Adam and Geoff to discuss the Southampton Bio-Dome he’s about to enter and the most unusual series he’s about to cover. Back in Australia, the road ahead is a less clear after a troubling week on the Covid front. Your Nerd Pledge numbers are: 5.91 – Michael Ball 2.50 – Elliott Diamond and Scott Tutton 0.68 – Jordan Russo 4.25 (and 1.49) – Paul Batfay 5.17 – Tim Vanderpump Guess away. Our answers are in the episode. Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is Calling the Shots, a six-part documentary podcast with Adam Collins and Daniel Norcross telling the story of a century of cricket commentary. In this, our final episode, we bring you up to date as we explore how the commentary box has become a more inclusive domain over the last decade. We also investigate how advances in data capture are influencing broadcasters like never before then close the series by reflecting on what we’ve learnt from tracking cricket’s progress on the airwaves through the last three months. To help tell that story, we once again have with us four guests. Andy Zaltzman – comedian and Test Match Special statistician Isa Guha – the newly appointed presenter of BBC cricket on TV Lisa Sthalekar – World Cup winner and television broadcaster Adam Mountford – the producer of Test Match Special since 2007 Calling the Shots is produced in partnership with The Pinch Hitter, a fabulous new initiative from the same people who bring you The Nightwatchman. The digital mag comes out once a fortnight, chock-full of contributions from some of the best freelance writers in the world. It is being made on a pay-what-you-can-afford basis, with all financial contributions going back into commissioning more brilliant cricket writing. Subscribe at thenightwatchman.net. Thanks to Jay Mueller at Bad Producer Productions for making this show possible. Calling the Shots is another proud member of the Bad Producer family. For more of their shows, jump on badproducerproductions.com. And thank you to our partners. To subscribe to the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, visit www.wisdenalmanack.com/subscribe. The excellent 2020 edition is on sale now (including in audiobook!) at www.wisdenalmanack.com/2020. Why not buy a new bat? Visit our friends Bear Cricket and daydream of the next season, whenever it comes. Our listeners get 10% off with the code CALLINGTHESHOTS at checkout - BearCricket.co.uk To learn more about the Lord’s Taverners vital work in the community, visit www.lordstaverners.org. Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 8, Ep 16: Amidst ongoing fighting that predates the virus crisis, South African cricket writer Telford Vice joins the show to explain the conflict in South African cricket. A long investigation into the suspended CEO will soon have a result while a carload of high-ranking staff have been sacked. The divisions are deep but as ever, it's complicated. Meanwhile Covid continues to confuse matters in Australia, and England's men prepare to take on the West Indies in the first Tests since lockdown, in which West Indies players will bring the Black Lives Matter discussion to the centre of the ground. Your Nerd Pledge numbers are: 6.51 – Abhilash Singh 2.68 – Sarah Berman & Glenn Wilcox 2.75 – Mark Stein 2.86 – Alemelu 3.00 – David Jones Guess away. Our answers are in the episode. Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Check out CBUS Super at cbussuper.com.au Call in from around the world with your ZOLEO with SatPhoneShop.com The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller on the Bad Producer Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In February 2018, we spoke to Dave in Durban a couple of days ahead of a Test series that would prove to be fateful in so many ways. This was an interesting and positive time in his cricketing life, before the world changed in the weeks that followed. In this weekend edition, we also take a look at Kim Garth’s decision to leave Ireland for Australia and get stuck into some excellent Nerd Pledges. Your Nerd Pledge numbers are: 6.49 – Max Keleher. 2.65 – Terry. 3.55 – Dan from the Sportress & Dan Gerritsen. 3.62 – Stephen Baxter, Ethan Morgan, Aaron Roberts. 3.80 – Miranda. Guess away. Our answers are in the episode. Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Check out CBUS Super at cbussuper.com.au And why not buy yourself a new bat? Pay a visit to our friends at bearcricket.co.uk and start daydreaming of the next season - whenever that day comes. And remember, our listeners receive 10% off by popping in the code FINALWORD at checkout. The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller on the Bad Producer Podcast Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 8, Ep 15: As promised, here it is – our chat with one of Australia’s favourite sons, William McInnes. You know him as an actor and a writer, but before that he was a cricket obsessive and remains one to this day. But our long and winding conversation went to more than simply why he cites Rick McCosker in the acknowledgement section of each book he writes - we also canvassed fatherhood, leadership, youth and grief. We hope you enjoy listening to this as much as we did recording it. Your Nerd Pledge numbers are: 6.35 – Blake Corbett 3.99 – Harrison Payne 4.34 – Peder Roberts Guess away. Our answers are in the episode. Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Check out CBUS Super at cbussuper.com.au Get your Wisden Cricket Monthly discount here. The July edition of the mag is out this week. Collect the next six editions for six quid, which is about ten bucks. The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller on the Bad Producer Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is Calling the Shots, a six-part documentary podcast with Adam Collins and Daniel Norcross telling the story of a century of cricket commentary. In previous episodes we’ve tracked cricket’s journey on TV and radio. They are stories that have been told before, albeit perhaps not quite in the same way. Today, we’re bringing you a story that has never been told about the disruptors; the men and women who wanted to live their lives in cricket and ended up doing exactly that. To help tell that tale, we have with us four guests. Geoff Lemon - poet, author and broadcaster Jarrod Kimber - writer, talker and filmmaker. Nigel Henderson - guerilla commentator. Andrew Miller - editor of ESPNcricinfo. Calling the Shots is produced in partnership with The Pinch Hitter, a fabulous new initiative from the same people who bring you The Nightwatchman. The digital mag comes out once a fortnight, chock-full of contributions from some of the best freelance writers in the world. It is being made on a pay-what-you-can-afford basis, with all financial contributions going back into commissioning more brilliant cricket writing. Subscribe at thenightwatchman.net. Thanks to Jay Mueller at Bad Producer Productions for making this show possible. Calling the Shots is another proud member of the Bad Producer family. For more of their shows, jump on badproducerproductions.com. And thank you to our partners. To subscribe to the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, visit www.wisdenalmanack.com/subscribe. The excellent 2020 edition is on sale now (including in audiobook!) at www.wisdenalmanack.com/2020. Why not buy a new bat? Visit our friends Bear Cricket and daydream of the next season, whenever it comes. Our listeners get 10% off with the code CALLINGTHESHOTS at checkout - BearCricket.co.uk To learn more about the Lord’s Taverners vital work in the community, visit www.lordstaverners.org. Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 8, Ep 14: That happened fast. At the start of the corona crisis, all looked rosy at Cricket Australia with the women winning the World Cup in front of a packed MCG and the men’s Test team getting back to the top of the world. But was this always destined to be the new CEO's fate given the baggage he brought to the role? And how did he misread the room so badly over the last couple of months? Chris Barrett, the senior news hound from the Sydney Morning Herald – who broke the news of the chief executive’s demise – joins The Final Word to work out what happened. On the same day, the great cricket archivist Robelinda2 was saved from an unjust copyright shutdown. Your Nerd Pledge numbers are: 11.07 – Gusey K 4.79 – Andrew Wilson 3.61 – Sean Barry & Damien McLean 2.70 – Christopher Weinberg & Matt Gaynor 3.93 – Kerry O’Brien Guess away. Our answers are in the episode. Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Check out CBUS Super at cbussuper.com.au Check out the latest copy of The Pinch Hitter here. The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller on the Bad Producer Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 8, Ep 13:Geoff is back with Adam for a little bit of Nerd Pledge before hopping into the second part of the extensive Calling the Shots interview with Mark Nicholas. The discussion this time focuses on the era where Mark was the front man for Channel Four’s innovative coverage before becoming a permanent member of the Nine team. He also gives his impression of how commentary has evolved since the India’s massive television presence changed the game forever. Your Nerd Pledge numbers are: 2.27 – Jon Tucker. 5.13 – Liam Dalton. 2.11 – Simon McInerney & Patrick Rodgers. 2.32 – Ravine Chandrapala, Samuel Therkelsen & Sam Littlejohn. 3.36 – Jessica Currie & Dane Hansted. Guess away. Our answers are in the episode. Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Our friends at Future Talent can give you 15% off their brilliant sports cards with the code TheFinalWord at the purchase bar. You can also win $300 worth of cards for your club by visiting futuretalent.com.au/competition Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Check out CBUS Super at cbussuper.com.au Call in from around the world with SatPhoneShop.com The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller on the Bad Producer Podcast Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 8, Ep 12:Daniel Norcross steps in for Geoff this week, reflecting with Adam on the Calling the Shots documentary project they have been working on through the lockdown period. As part of that research, they have recorded a number of long interviews – none more detailed than their conversation with Mark Nicholas; too good not to release in full. The extensive chat, broken over two parts, begins with Mark’s childhood fascination with commentary before moving through his own varied and celebrated career behind the microphone across the cricketing world over the last 25 years. Your Nerd Pledge numbers are: 2.45 - David. 3.24 - Julian Campbell 6.40 - Alex Brown 2.39 - Glenn Shepherd & Byron Cooper-Fogarty 2.83 - Laura Daw Guess away. Our answers are in the episode. Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Our friends at Future Talent can give you 15% off their brilliant sports cards with the code TheFinalWord at the purchase bar. You can also win $300 worth of cards for your club by visiting futuretalent.com.au/competition Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Check out CBUS Super at cbussuper.com.au Call in from around the world with SatPhoneShop.com The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller on the Bad Producer Podcast Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This interview with Jason Gillespie, recorded on the Adelaide Oval boundary edge at the day after the Ashes Test in 2017, was a turning point for show. Until then, we would talk to the occasional guest but only ever briefly. Because this conversation coincided with a rain delay, and Dizzy didn’t fancy helping with the covers in the game where he was playing in, we kept the tape running. It was well worth it, touching on topics that normally wouldn’t have otherwise made the show. It was really well received at the time, so we made it the model for The Final Word ever since. Enjoy. Your Nerd Pledge numbers are: 7.08 - Jeremy Brown 11.96 - Elia Andrews 1.68 - Andrew Turner 3.03 - James Scambler. 3.77 - Laksmi Govindasamy Guess away. Our answers are in the episode. Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Our friends at Future Talent can give you 15% off their brilliant sports cards with the code TheFinalWord at the purchase bar. You can also win $300 worth of cards for your club by visiting futuretalent.com.au/competition Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Check out CBUS Super at cbussuper.com.au The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller on the Bad Producer Podcast Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 8, Ep 11: The BCCI is fuming after some sensitive correspondence found its way to the Times of India newspaper. Things the BCCI don’t want you to Be See(ing) with your See(ing) Eye. What got leaked, and why are they mad? Plans for the T20 World Cup still haven’t been finalised after an ICC meeting got cancelled in the aftermath. The detectives are on the case. Want to know more? Join us in this darkened underground car park. Also this week we’ll look at the WACA cracking it, the newly released Australian schedule and the likelihood of it going ahead, the odds of seeing South Africa in 2021, back to the 1920s to visit a man who could have been one of the greats, Happy Birthday Sachin, a review of cricketing doctors, and all the Nerd Pledge history you can handle. Ted Dexter freaks get ready. Your Nerd Pledge numbers are: 1.80 – Bernhard Sayer. 3.07 – Nicky Young. 3.82 – Marianne Webb. 3.85 – Joey McGahan & Cameron Allen. 2.05 – Craig McGowen & Tom. Guess away. Our answers are in the episode. Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Our friends at Future Talent can give you 15% off their brilliant sports cards with the code TheFinalWord at the purchase bar. You can also win $300 worth of cards for your club by visiting futuretalent.com.au/competition Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Check out CBUS Super at cbussuper.com.au The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller on the Bad Producer Podcast Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is Calling the Shots, a six-part documentary podcast with Adam Collins and Daniel Norcross telling the story of a century of cricket commentary. Over the last two episodes, our attention was squarely on the development of radio commentary. Here, in part four, we shift gears to explore the television revolution in England, Australia and India. To help tell that story, we have with us four guests. Mark Nicholas, who for the last 25 years has been broadcasting international cricket around the world Dan Waddell, prolific author and historian who wrote ‘And Welcome To The Highlights’ Jim Maxwell, who has called more than 300 Test Matches across 43 years. And Harsha Bhogle, the definitive voice of Indian cricket. Calling the Shots is produced in partnership with The Pinch Hitter, a fabulous new initiative from the same people who bring you The Nightwatchman. The digital mag comes out once a fortnight, chock-full of contributions from some of the best freelance writers in the world. It is being made on a pay-what-you-can-afford basis, with all financial contributions going back into commissioning more brilliant cricket writing. Subscribe at thenightwatchman.net. Thanks to Jay Mueller at Bad Producer Productions for making this show possible. Calling the Shots is another proud member of the Bad Producer family. For more of their shows, jump on badproducerproductions.com. And thank you to our partners. To subscribe to the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, visit www.wisdenalmanack.com/subscribe. The excellent 2020 edition is on sale now (including in audiobook!) at www.wisdenalmanack.com/2020. Why not buy a new bat? Visit our friends Bear Cricket and daydream of the next season, whenever it comes. Our listeners get 10% off with the code CALLINGTHESHOTS at checkout - BearCricket.co.uk To learn more about the Lord’s Taverners vital work in the community, visit www.lordstaverners.org. Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 8, Ep 10: It is one year since the start of the 2019 World Cup – the time of our cricketing lives. To mark the anniversary, we talk to a funny man we spent a lot of time with each Monday morning of the tournament, RadioX’s Toby Tarrant. Back in the present day, momentum continues to build for international cricket to return midyear and might even see Australia touring England again in September. Oh, and last week we hit ONE MILLION DOWNLOADS since moving to the Bad Producer Productions network. Thanks to all of you for being part of that remarkable ride. Your Nerd Pledge numbers are: 3.81 – Jack Quigley 3.06 – Patch Clapp & David Peterson 7.70 – Callum McLeod 6.18 – Chris Unwin 4.32 – Ryan Africa & Brendan Legg Guess away. Our answers are in the episode. Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Check out CBUS Super at cbussuper.com.au Get your Wisden Cricket Monthly discount at bit.ly/wcmfinal Our friends at Future Talent can give you 15% off their brilliant sports cards with the code TheFinalWord at the purchase bar. You can also win $300 worth of cards for your club by visiting futuretalent.com.au/competition The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller on the Bad Producer Podcast Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our fourth encore edition, to enjoy through another socially-distanced weekend. Isa Guha is one of our favourite people in the game with one the best stories to tell as an acclaimed broadcaster and an outstanding England seamer, along with a PhD and a rich family background in India. We discussed all of this with her at Adelaide Oval back in January 2019. Your Nerd Pledge numbers are: 4.35 – Dink Wingleman 5.02 – Claire Daniel 4.16 – Jeames Withers 2.38 – Mark / Nicholas Tewson 1.89 – Andy Slee Guess away. Our answers are in the episode. Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Check out CBUS Super at cbussuper.com.au Our friends at Future Talent can give you 15% off their brilliant sports cards with the code TheFinalWord at the purchase bar. You can also win $300 worth of cards for your club by visiting futuretalent.com.au/competition The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller, edited by Dave Collins and is part of the Bad Producer Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 8, Ep 9: We shouldn’t, but we couldn’t help ourselves. Somehow we all keep getting sucked in by Shane Warne being an old man yelling at a cloud shaped like Steve Waugh. There are numbers though, and reality checks. On things that matter, we bring back our old friend Bharat Sundaresan to give us the detail on what the world’s problems will mean for India, the IPL and the BCCI. Nerd Pledge returns along with Happy Birthday Sachin, then we get the lowdown on how the hell schools have kept teaching kids in Australia, thanks to a chat with devoted teacher and longtime Final Word supporter Matthew Beggs. Your Nerd Pledge numbers are: 4.41 - Nick Beaver & Simon 1.84 - Anthony Bienak 4.07 - Ben White & Archie Hood 4.16 - Dave Brown & Dechlan Brennan 2.58 - Timothy O’Meara Guess away. Our answers are in the episode. Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Check out CBUS Super at cbussuper.com.au Our friends at Future Talent can give you 15% off their sports cards with the code TheFinalWord at purchase. You can also win $300 worth of cards for your club by visiting futuretalent.com.au/competition The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller on the Bad Producer Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is Calling the Shots, a six-part documentary podcast telling the story of a century of cricket commentary. Welcome to episode three, where Daniel Norcross and Adam Collins take you on a helter-skelter journey through the second half of the 20th Century as we pick up the story in the 1950s with the launch of the most successful and enduring brand radio sport has ever produced: Test Match Special. To help us tell that story, we have three guests. Jonathan Agnew. the BBC's Cricket correspondent and voice of TMS for the last 29 years; Vic Marks, former England spinner, the cricket correspondent for The Guardian and a summariser on the programme since 1984; and Peter Baxter, who steered the ship with distinction between 1973 and 2009. Calling the Shots is produced in partnership with The Pinch Hitter, a fabulous new initiative from the same people who bring you The Nightwatchman. The digital mag comes out once a fortnight, chock-full of contributions from some of the best freelance writers in the world. It is being made on a pay-what-you-can-afford basis, with all financial contributions going back into commissioning more brilliant cricket writing. Subscribe at thenightwatchman.net. Thanks to Jay Mueller at Bad Producer Productions for making this show possible. Calling the Shots is another proud member of the Bad Producer family. For more of their shows, jump on badproducerproductions.com. And thank you to our partners. To subscribe to the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, visit www.wisdenalmanack.com/subscribe. The excellent 2020 edition is on sale now (including in audiobook!) at www.wisdenalmanack.com/2020. Why not buy a new bat? Visit our friends Bear Cricket and daydream of the next season, whenever it comes. Our listeners get 10% off with the code CALLINGTHESHOTS at checkout - BearCricket.co.uk To learn more about the Lord’s Taverners vital work in the community, visit www.lordstaverners.org. Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 8, Ep 8: We've been wanting to speak to Megan Schutt on the pod for years. It was worth the wait. The world’s top-ranked seamer told us her story, from tough times in the schoolyard to reaching the top of the cricketing world and everything in between. She’s a gem. Also, in the news: Warnie’s mural and Monty’s couch - both welcome distractions as we try to work out what will be of this English summer. There’s happier news for Australia, with India now very much on track to visit later this year. Our Nerd Pledge numbers are: 5.66 – Michelle Garland 4.18 – Shane FitzGibbon 4.19 – Joe Lundy 2.84 – Michael Roder 2.37 – Mike Dunn Guess away. Our answers are in the episode. Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Check out CBUS Super at cbussuper.com.au Learn more about the ZOLEO at zoleo.com The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller on the Bad Producer Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Another encore edition for your weekend listening during lockdown. It was quite the mission getting up to visit Ian Chappell in early 2019, but it was absolutely worth it for this extensive chat about his life in cricket. The former Australian captain, and acclaimed writer and commentator on the game, truly has seen it all. He was a joy to interview. Our Nerd Pledge numbers in this episode are: 1.94 – Tom Stewart & Faraz Khan 3.60 – Nick O'Connell 3.30 – Alex Crampton Guess away. Our answers are in the episode. Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Thanks to our friends at Future Talent. Grab 15% off their brilliant sports cards by dropping in TheFinalWord at the purchase bar. Check out CBUS Super at cbussuper.com.au Wisden Cricket Monthly discount is at bit.ly/wcmfinal Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller on the Bad Producer Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 8, Ep 7: More segments than a juicy Valencia orange this week. A new Statman chases the grandest cricket number of all. The Milk Round tests out new dairy abominations. Ever heard a man drink 1.8 litres of milk? Is this a cricket show or Who Dares Wins? Happy Birthday Sachin sees the Master back to doing what he does best. Nerd Pledge goes down a different tangent to usual. Izzy Westbury joins the show to talk through English cricket cancelling The Hundred. Harbhajan Singh is chasing chemtrails. We’ll cover off the new Australian men’s and women’s contracts, and upheaval at Cricket Victoria. There’s everything you could want, all mixed into an audio heap. Our Nerd Pledge numbers are: 2.13 – Laura Daw 2.61 – Patch Devereux Clapp 1.77 – Justin Gauder Guess away. Our answers are in the episode. Why not buy a new bat? Visit our friends at BearCricket.co.uk and daydream of the next season, whenever it comes. Our listeners get 10% off with the code FINALWORD at checkout. Check out CBUS Super at cbussuper.com.au Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller on the Bad Producer Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is Calling the Shots, a six-part documentary podcast telling the story of a century of cricket commentary. Welcome to episode two, where Daniel Norcross and Adam Collins go right back to the origins of cricket broadcasting, to the very first commentaries between the wars when radio was the only way to keep up and television is a pipe dream. To help us tell that story, we have David Frith, the masterful Anglo-Australian historian and archivist, Jim Maxwell, the voice of cricket on the radio in Australia, and Peter Baxter, who spent four decades working as a producer and broadcaster on BBC’s Test Match Special Calling the Shots is produced in partnership with The Pinch Hitter, a fabulous new initiative from the same people who bring you The Nightwatchman. The digital mag comes out once a fortnight, chock-full of contributions from some of the best freelance writers in the world. It is being made on a pay-what-you-can-afford basis, with all financial contributions going back into commissioning more brilliant cricket writing. Subscribe at thenightwatchman.net. Thanks to Jay Mueller at Bad Producer Productions for making this show possible. Calling the Shots is another proud member of the Bad Producer family. For more of their shows, jump on badproducerproductions.com. And thank you to our partners. To subscribe to the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, visit www.wisdenalmanack.com/subscribe. The excellent 2020 edition is on sale now (including in audiobook!) at www.wisdenalmanack.com/2020. And to learn more about the Lord’s Taverners vital work in the community, take a look at www.lordstaverners.org. Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 8, Ep 6: It’s quiz time. Official brain genius J. Liew joins us from the Guardian for a proper dive into an overflowing heap of Nerd Pledge numbers. Before that we’ve got Daniel Brettig from Cricinfo for an update on Cricket Australia’s problems with its relationships and its money bin. We’ve got cricket up and running in Vanuatu with the mighty Mele Bulls taking a title over the Powerhouse Sharks. We’ve got the most special episode yet of Happy Birthday Sachin, a career farewell to Pakistan’s pioneering captain Sana Mir, the possibility of legalised ball tampering, the ethics and etiquette of when to share a Chupa Chup, and Pauly Shore setting up cricket’s own biodome. Our bumper Nerd Pledge round includes: 2.76 (from Slim Johns) 3.10 (Nick Dwyer) 2.13 (from Laura Daw) 2.36 (from Thilo Fob) 2.42 (from Mary Stevens) 1.05 (from Nick AMC) 2.25 (from Peta Dowling) 3.27 (from Tim Minchin, no, not that Tim Minchin) 2.17 (from Tim Andrews) 2.64 (from Clive Azavedo) Guess away. Our answers are in the episode. Sign up with a Nerd Pledge Check out CBUS Super at cbussuper.com.au Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller on the Bad Producer Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Another encore edition for your weekend listening during lockdown. And who better to return to than the patron saint of The Final Word? On the eve of last year’s World Cup, we spent some in Bristol with Glenn Maxwell taking stock of his life so far. Funny, generous, and thoughtful, this is a cricketer who everyone has watched, showing a side that not many people would have got to know. It was one of our most popular interviews. Our Nerd Pledge numbers this week are: 7.12 – Joseph Brookshaw 1.02 – Kristian Karamfiles 3.76 – Seb Taylor Guess away. Our answers are in the episode. Why not buy yourself a new bat? Pay a visit to our friends at bearcricket.co.uk and start daydreaming of the next season - whenever that comes. Our listeners receive 10% off by popping in the code FINALWORD at checkout. Check out CBUS Super at cbussuper.com.au Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller on the Bad Producer Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 8, Ep 5: You thought cricket was safe in the south? Think again. CA is shutting down operations to avoid running out of cash. Questions and accusations abound. Are they broke yet? Will they stiff the players? Did they lose it all playing the stock market? We talk to newshound Peter Lalor to separate fact from misunderstanding. Also: which of the Mighty Ducks actually deserved to play for Team USA? Will Glenn Maxwell captain Australia A in an unofficial Test against Steve Smith and company? Will the IPL take over the spot if the T20 World Cup leaves a vacancy? When can we watch a cricket match in Amsterdam? For an episode recorded on 4/20, we need to know. Our Nerd Pledge numbers this week are: 2.63 – Pharsicle 6.19 – Joseph Brookshaw 3.62 – Matt Boland Guess away. Our answers are in the episode. Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Check out CBUS Super at cbussuper.com.au Wisden Cricket Monthly discount is at bit.ly/wcmfinal The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller on the Bad Producer Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is Calling the Shots, new documentary podcast telling the story of a century of cricket commentary. Welcome to episode one, where Daniel Norcross and Adam Collins begin to explore what makes a great broadcaster, and how they bring us the big defining moments that stay with us forever. For that, they are joined by Ian Smith and Alison Mitchell, two superb commentators who have both been behind the microphone calling some of the most celebrated moments in the modern history of the game. Calling The Shots is produced in partnership with The Pinch Hitter, a fabulous new initiative from the same people who bring you The Nightwatchman. The digital mag comes out once a fortnight, chock-full of contributions from some of the best freelance writers in the world. It is being made on a pay-what-you-can-afford basis, with all financial contributions going back into commissioning more brilliant cricket writing. Subscribe at thenightwatchman.net. Thanks to the Wisden Cricketers' Almanack for their support of Calling the Shots. To get the most out of the bible of the game, visit www.wisdenalmanack.com/subscribe. The excellent 2020 edition is on sale now (including in audiobook!) at www.wisdenalmanack.com/2020 Thanks to Jay Mueller at Bad Producer Productions for making this show possible. Calling the Shots is another proud member of the Bad Producer family. For more of their shows, jump on badproducerproductions.com. And if you are interested in having your brand partner with the show through the course of the series, please drop Adam a line. Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 8, Ep 4. With no cricket on, everyone in England watched replays of the Headingley Test over the weekend, so we look back at that day in our lives as well. Nathan Lyon has had to cancel a deal at Hampshire, and likes the idea of playing Virat Kohli in empty stadiums. Also this week, we talk to journalist Will Macpherson about how the current situation will hit English counties and the international season, and all countries in the Test Championship. Winnie has started smiling. Yuvraj Singh is trying to do the same. The Nerd Pledge numbers are flowing in, and we do our best to answer them. Also this week, the STATMAN segment is back. Our Nerd Pledge numbers this week are: 2.21 – Stephen Donohue, Sam Nemzer, & Thomas 2.07 – Harry Chapman 3.88 – Toby Miles) Guess away. Our answers are in the episode. Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Check out CBUS Super at cbussuper.com.au Wisden Cricket Monthly discount is at bit.ly/wcmfinal The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller on the Bad Producer Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

India's voice of cricket has a long relationship with Australia too, part of ABC radio since 1991. None of this happened by accident: Harsha Bhogle was the classic freelance pioneer, and still has the same attitude. For The Final Word 2018 Christmas special, Harsha settled down for a long chat with Adam and Geoff about the hustle and grind, the need to improvise, and the story of how he turned it into an extraordinary life. This is the encore repeat of that interview. This is also the start of what eventually morphed into Story Time, our weekend show where we used Nerd Pledge numbers to journey through cricket history. Our Nerd Pledge numbers this show: 2.24 (Abhilash Singh) 2.41 (Sarah Vaile) Guess away. Our answers are in the episode. Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 8, Ep 3: The year of cricket ahead might look sparse, but the year before was one of the busiest. For 157 years the Wisden Almanack has been recording all things cricket, and the latest edition of the biggest small book in the game is out this week. As last year, we talk through the contents with editor Lawrence Booth. Also on the show this week: Steve O’Keefe has to hang up his glowsticks as New South Wales give him a premature move-along. Dean Jones cracks the shits with Victoria. Bruce Dawe departs this world. NRL Island might be a goer. Plenty of Nerd Pledge, and our new segment Happy Birthday Sachin. Our Nerd Pledge numbers for this week are: 2.33 (from Ajay) 6.70 (from Will Maclean) 2.72 (from Ben Raue) Guess away. Our answers are in the episode. Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Check out CBUS Super at cbussuper.com.au Wisden Cricket Monthly discount is at bit.ly/wcmfinal Call in from around the world with SatPhoneShop.com Get your own personal footy cards from FutureTalent.com.au The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller on the Bad Producer Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 8, Episode 2: Nasser Hussain. He’s known for Karachi in the dark, for the toss at Brisbane, for Hansie’s leather jacket, so we talked about none of these things. For over an hour we sat down and talked about everything else: about the boy who played in India’s Chepauk stadium but went on to captain England, about the teenage leg-spinner who was forced to change arts, about the young hothead who became a shrewd tactician. About rebuilding a broken side, building a team that went on to great things, then becoming one of the most respected commentators in the game. Nasser was as forthright and thoughtful as you might expect if you’ve seen him interview anyone else. Listen through for a memorable Final Word. Our Nerd Pledge numbers for this week: 3.29 (from Alan) 5.59 (from Richard Johnson) 4.03 (from Will Sandford) Guess away. Our answers are in the episode. Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 8, Ep 1: That’s right, it’s time for a new Final Word season. A season in which very little cricket may be played, but much cricket will be played in our hearts. A season in which the real cricket will be the friends we make along the way. Thanks so much to everyone who has joined in to support the show in the last week. We’ll keep doing it. One of the best pastimes in isolation has been watching the new documentary series The Test, a view from within the Australian men’s team in the 18 months after the sandpaper affair. Series director Adrian Brown joins Adam to tell how the show came to exist. Also, have you ever wondered what someone sounds like trying to talk beneath a layer of custard? Geoff can demonstrate. Adam is in full UK lockdown. Daniel Norcross is reworking the dystopian alternate ending to World War II. Winnie is extremely vocal. Cat Cricket is sweeping the internet. Sachin Tendulkar has some birthday wishes. Shane Warne owns a gin company. The people cry in one voice for the 2005 Ashes. The man behind Robelinda2 emerges as the people’s champion. There’s Nerd Pledge, letters, and more. Our Nerd Pledge numbers for this week are: 2.03 (from James Moosh) 3.69 (from Jake Garlick 2.21 (from Andrew Gilbertson) 3.29 (from Dane Hansted) Guess away. Our answers are in the episode. Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Check out CBUS Super at cbussuper.com.au Wisden Cricket Monthly discount is at bit.ly/wcmfinal The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller on the Bad Producer Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 7, Ep 24. With COVID-19 stopping the world of sport, Dr Peter Brukner is who you want to hear from: having been the doctor for Australia’s cricket and football teams, Olympic athletics and swimming squads, AFL and Premier League clubs. The doc joins The Final Word to give us the answers, and to tell us when those answers don’t exist. Season 7, Ep 24: We’d also like you all to know that we’ll keep podcasting weekly throughout the long shutdown. We’ve got a million ideas even without any cricket being played, and we’d like to be a source of company and comfort for those that want it. Our Nerd Pledge numbers for this week are: 2.68 (from Paul Richards) 2.75 (from Tim Unwin) 2.94 (from Darren Smith) Guess away. Our answers are in the episode. Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Check out CBUS Super at cbussuper.com.au Wisden Cricket Monthly discount is at bit.ly/wcmfinal The Final Word is produced by Jay Mueller, edited by Dave Collins and is part of the Bad Producer Podcast Network Title track by Urthboy Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices