The Final Word Cricket Podcast

Season 17, Ep 27: While the Champions Trophy semi-finals happen around us, Adam and Geoff try to stay focused on the rest of the week's matters at hand. Jos Buttler finally gives up the eternal sadness of England captaincy, Matt Kuhnemann gets cleared by the University of Western Australia (don't start with us), Cam Green is held back from the Shield, David Boon joins the CA board, Jimmy Anderson signs up for The Hundred, and Australia's women gear up for yet another tour of New Zealand. Your Nerd Pledge revisit this week: 5.74 - Jacob Norton Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS in their 40th year: cbussuper.com.au Get 20% off your cask of MacIness scotch whisky! Email them with the code ICCWHISKYCRICKET20 at macinneswhisky.com Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Champions Trophy 1st semi-final, India v Australia, Dubai: Australia changed their blueprint and their attack but neither quite worked as India did enough with the ball and had too much depth with the bat, advancing to the final with Virat Kohli front and centre. In the thick of things at Dubai Sports City for us, it's Daniel Norcross with Andrew Fidel Fernando. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get 20% off your cask of MacIness scotch whisky! ICCWHISKYCRICKET20 is the code, email [email protected] to get the ball rolling. Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Champions Trophy Day 13, semi-final preview: Everyone is where they need to be for the final stages of this tournament, with Australia's configuration the main point of interest - the underdogs by any measure in Dubai against India on Tuesday. From there, it'll be South Africa and New Zealand duking it out in Lahore on Wednesday. Might it be the Proteas against the men in blue as it was in last year's T20 decider? Daniel Norcross and Andrew Fidel Fernando have plenty to chew over in their preview of what is to come. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get 20% off your cask of MacIness scotch whisky! ICCWHISKYCRICKET20 is the code, email [email protected] to get the ball rolling. Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Champions Trophy Day 12, India v New Zealand, Dubai: We knew who had made the final four of this tournament, but now - after India flexed their muscles in an impressive bowling performance against New Zealand - it's clear who gets who in the semis. Daniel Norcross and Andrew Fidel Fernando are on duty for the final game of the group stage in the UAE. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get 20% off your cask of MacIness scotch whisky! ICCWHISKYCRICKET20 is the code, email [email protected] to get the ball rolling. Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Champions Trophy Day 11, England v South Africa, Karachi: South Africa have successfully made it through to another semi-final, annihilating Jos Buttler’s sorry side on his final day in charge. To work through it all, we have Danyal Rasool at the National Stadium in Karachi joining Cameron Ponsonby. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get 20% off your cask of MacIness scotch whisky! ICCWHISKYCRICKET20 is the code, email [email protected] to get the ball rolling. Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's Story Time, our walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, we head to South Africa for the first big explosion in a career of big explosions, we pop by Headingley and the MCG for a career that was something more than what might have been, head through India and the West Indies for a career of frustration that finally had its fulfilment, and go back to Western Australia for something that definitely happened at the wrong time. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 8.61 - Sami Dowd 5.56 - Jack Hughes 71.43 - Ken Edwards 1.04 - Michael Fallon Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Get 20% off your cask of MacIness scotch whisky! ICCWHISKYCRICKET20 is the code, email [email protected] to get the ball rolling. Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Champions Trophy Day 10, Australia v Afghanistan, Lahore: More rain ruined the result for the men in gold (canary yellow?), but it matters little - they are going to be playing in another semi-final and Travis Head, India's nemesis so many times, is back to top form at the perfect time. Meanwhile, Afghanistan remain an outside chance of qualification themselves. At Lahore, Andrew Fidel Fernando is there to sum it all up with Cameron Ponsonby for company. Also, who should take over from Jos Buttler? Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get 20% off your cask of MacIness scotch whisky! ICCWHISKYCRICKET20 is the code, email [email protected] to get the ball rolling. Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Champions Trophy Day 9, Pakistan v Bangladesh, Rawalpindi: What a mess. Pakistan, tournament hosts, were already bundled out after two dreadful losses and now their third and final game, against Bangladesh, has been washed out before a ball was bowled. But never fear, Daniel Norcross and Andrew Fidel Fernando are here to tell us what this all means. There is also the chance for them to go back to yesterday and trawl over England's entrails. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get 20% off your cask of MacIness scotch whisky! ICCWHISKYCRICKET20 is the code, email [email protected] to get the ball rolling. Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Champions Trophy Day 8, England v Afghanistan, Lahore: For a third ICC tournament in a row, England are going home before the business end. It was a thriller in Lahore with many twists and turns, but the real story at the end of it all is Afghanistan - if they beat Australia they're into the semis. Danyal Rasool is at the ground, in discussion with Cameron Ponsonby. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get 20% off your cask of MacIness scotch whisky! ICCWHISKYCRICKET20 is the code, email [email protected] to get the ball rolling. Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 17, Ep 26: Back with the weekly show, with Adam back home, and there's always plenty to go through. Bharat's Australian Story episode went up, our show managed to win the podcast award from the Australian Sport Commission, and then it's into some ponderings about the future of the Australian team, Josh Inglis and his back story, some of the strange pronouncements from England's men and some even stranger criticisms, and some busy times in the domestic landscapes of both countries. A county mystery continues: who did pay for Cameron Green to go to Bristol? Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Get 20% off your cask of MacIness scotch whisky! ICCWHISKYCRICKET20 is the code, email [email protected] to get the ball rolling. Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Champions Trophy Day 7, Australia v South Africa, Rawalpindi: No toss, no game - the rain won. But what does that mean for the two teams in the context of a rapid-fire group stage? Daniel Norcross and Andrew Fidel Fernando are there for us at the stadium to work through the numbers. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get 20% off your cask of MacIness scotch whisky! ICCWHISKYCRICKET20 is the code, email [email protected] to get the ball rolling. Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Champions Trophy Day 6, New Zealand v Bangladesh, Rawalpindi: The Black Caps are through to yet another ICC semi-final, easily accounting to Bangladesh in Rawalpindi with a Michael Bracewell 4fa and a Rachin Ravindra ton the best on show. Rather unexpectedly, Cam Ponsonby has Adam Collins with him, who he tells all about it. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get 20% off your cask of MacIness scotch whisky! ICCWHISKYCRICKET20 is the code, email [email protected] to get the ball rolling. Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's Story Time, our walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, we find ourselves revisiting the time when Bharat accidentally had to organise a reggae tour of India, which all began with one of the great Test finishes. Also, a distinctly Ceylonese theme through an exploration of circular mathematics, the Spanish coastline, and Perth driving lessons, before we follow a kangaroo that visited Yorkshire. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 2.40 - Chris Wright 3.14 - Matt Brown 2.19 - Andy Shaw 35.60 - Bubbles Hider Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Get 20% off your cask of MacIness scotch whisky! ICCWHISKYCRICKET20 is the code, email [email protected] to get the ball rolling. Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Champions Trophy Day 5, India v Pakistan, Dubai: The most clinical of performances from India, who did as they always do in 50-over ICC tournaments: thrash Pakistan. And how fitting that it was Virat Kohli right in the thick of things, completing an extraordinary 51st ODI ton. At Dubai Sports City, we have Daniel Norcross with Andrew Fidel Fernando. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get 20% off your cask of MacIness scotch whisky! ICCWHISKYCRICKET20 is the code, email [email protected] to get the ball rolling. Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Champions Trophy Day 4, Australia v England, Lahore: Who would ever count Australia out in a major tournament, even after conceding a big score? It was a night to savour for Josh Inglis, the matchwinner in a beauty of a contest at Lahore. For it, we have Danyal Rasool at the ground joining Cam Ponsonby. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get 20% off your cask of MacIness scotch whisky! ICCWHISKYCRICKET20 is the code, email [email protected] to get the ball rolling. Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Champions Trophy Day 3, South Africa v Afghanistan, Karachi: South Africa had no form to speak of coming into this competition, but just as it has been in the last couple of major tournaments, they have stepped up right away against Afghanistan in Karachi. Daniel Norcross is at the National Stadium, joined by Cricinfo’s Danyal Rasool. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get 20% off your cask of MacIness scotch whisky! ICCWHISKYCRICKET20 is the code, email [email protected] to get the ball rolling. Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Champions Trophy Day 2, India v Bangladesh, Dubai: When it's Bangladesh and India in a big tournament, the results have historically only gone one way. Towhid Hridoy at least made sure that for him it was a night to remember, with his first century in the red and green. But what was going on with Rohit Sharma's hands? Cameron Ponsonby is joined by Andrew Fidel Fernando. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get 20% off your cask of MacIness scotch whisky! ICCWHISKYCRICKET20 is the code, email [email protected] to get the ball rolling. Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Champions Trophy Day 1, Pakistan v NZ, Karachi: Pakistan waited 29 years to host an ICC tournament. Their fans will hope the next one is at least another 29 years away, after a performance that would depress even the most committed Pangloss. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get 20% off your cask of MacIness scotch whisky! ICCWHISKYCRICKET20 is the code, email [email protected] to get the ball rolling. Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 17, Ep 25: We're recording at the lovely SCG before The Final Word's own night of nights, the Australian Sports Commission Awards, where we're up for Best Podcast. It would be weird if we were up for something else. In the meantime, Matt Kuhnemann is being sent off the University of Western Australia, Mitchell Starc joins his Big Three colleagues in missing out on the Champions Trophy, India keeps beating England, New Zealand win a rare tri-series, and there are Australian domestic goings-on aplenty. Wish us luck. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Get 20% off your cask of MacIness scotch whisky! ICCWHISKYCRICKET20 is the code, email [email protected] to get the ball rolling. Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 17 Episode 24: From the moment he walked through the gates as a teenager, Mike Gatting never left Lord’s. Mostly known as England Ashes-winning captain away from home in 1986/87, his CV at HQ is a hefty one as Middlesex legend and a past president of both MCC and our mates at Lord’s Taverners. So, it was only right that it was in the pavilion where he met with Adam to talk through a huge and eventful five decades in the pro game, with continued service to this day. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Get 20% off your cask of MacIness scotch whisky! ICCWHISKYCRICKET20 is the code, email [email protected] to get the ball rolling. Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's Story Time, our walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, we're back at last, after the longest ever hiatus on this particular program. Things got out of hand, but to make up for it, we're going back to the Roman Empire to examine Latin calendar structures. What does that have to do with cricket? You'll find out. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 4.70 - James Tiernan 25.00 - Robert Amore 2327.00 - Peder Roberts 9.56 - David Atkinson Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Greatest Season That Was - The Final Frontier – Mike Coward During the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia, The Greatest Season That Was pod focused its attention on the relationship between the cricketing giants over the decades, some 20 years from the staggering 2001 encounter in India. To this point, episodes have looked back at that landmark series, and the decade that came before it, with people who were there: Harsha Bhogle. Gavin Robertson, Adam Gilchrist, Mike Kasprowicz and most recently, Colin Funky Miller. Today, a slight change of approach, speaking with the defining journalist voice on all matters Australia in India – Mike Coward. A giant of cricket writing, Mike was documenting the story of the relations between these nations well before it was popular or profitable. Through his book, Cricket Beyond the Bazaar, he brought these stories to life – the good, bad and ugly. He spoke with Shannon Gill and Dan Brettig. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 17, Ep 23: The Australian international summer is winding down, even with a major ICC tournament around the corner next week. A debrief on the Sri Lankan tour is our first order of business, noting that we did reach Murali's 800 in Galle after all. From there, the BazBall Death Cult has a certain ring to it, as does the idea of José Mourinho becoming cricket's Ted Lasso in the new privatised world of The Hundred. On a bumper ep, there's also time to sink our teeth into a brilliant Shield round and celebrate Ireland's Test success in Bulawayo. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sri Lanka Australia Daily, 2nd Test, Galle Day 4: It's taken 14 years for Australia to win a series in Sri Lanka and they've done so here in style, completing the sweep by nine wickets. The brief day included an important little moment for Marnus Labuschagne, there with red ink at the end. Adam and Bharat return to the roof for one final ep as we inch closer to 800 patreons! Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sri Lanka Australia Daily, 2nd Test, Galle Day 3: From a shattered thumb that threatened his tour to the series' leading wicket-taker, Matt Kuhnemann has been outstanding from the first over he bowled in Galle. His four wickets, plus Nathan Lyon's three and Beau Webster's cameo, have put Australia into a perfect position to wrap this up in straight sets. But they did have to overcome local resistance with both ball then bat. Join Adam and Bharat, back on the roof. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sri Lanka Australia Daily, 2nd Test, Galle Day 2: The scorecard won't suggest it, but the gamer was in balance just after lunch with Sri Lanka's spinners getting into groove. But then Carey, elevated to five, joined Steve Smith in the middle and they never left. Two superlative tons defined the day, putting Australia into another commanding position. Adam has Bharat with him on the roof, where they also find time to discuss a difficult subject - poor old Marnus. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sri Lanka Australia Daily, 2nd Test, Galle Day 1: When you need a job done in this part of the world, you know who to call: Mitch Starc and Nathan Lyon. The Australian veterans were both outstanding on a day where Sri Lanka also offered resistance at times on a pitch that is likely to send this Test into fast forward in the next day or two. Adam has Bharat with him and they're back on the roof with the story of the day to faithfully relay to you. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sri Lanka Australia Daily, 2nd Test, Galle Day 0: Is Cooper Connolly going to make it four debuts in four Tests for Australia's men? We've compiled enough circumstantial evidence to suggest so. Also, one of our all-time favourites in Final Word history, Franky D Karunaratne, has decided to make this 100th Test this week his final appearance for Sri Lanka. It's Adam and Bharat on the field of play ahead of a second week on the roof looking out to the Fort. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 17, Ep 22: In news that will surprise no one, England and India don't like the World Test Championship structure because they haven't made the final. So Jay Shah and Richard Thompson of the ECB have tasked themselves with starting from scratch before their teams play five Tests against each other in June. Also this week, our view on the English wash-up from the WAshes, with renewal badly needed, Kohli plays the Ranji, Kurtis Patterson keeps making tons, new funding for the Afghan women's team, and a look at who's missing from the Australian cricket Hall of Fame. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sri Lanka Australia Daily, 1st Test, Galle Day 4: 5/9, 7/15, 15 wickets in two sessions. This all combined to Australia recording their fourth biggest win in Test history, which happened to be Sri Lanka's greatest shellacking. Adam and Bharat are at Galle to detail how it all happened and why Matt Kuhnemann's nine-wicket match has more wider significance than just this result. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Women's Ashes Daily, Only Test, MCG Day 3: Alana King's Ashes. That is the only conclusion, after a final day of fizzing leg breaks and endless pressure, bowling from the Shane Warne Stand end on her way to the honours board. Sophie Ecclestone also had her moment, toiling hard in an outmatched team. It ended with intrigue and a dose of hilarity in front of an even-more-world-record crowd, and now the mighty MCG is home again only to the seagulls. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sri Lanka Australia Daily, 1st Test, Galle Day 3: Jason Holder had it right all those years ago - Dhananjaaaaaaya, what are you doing? His was one of two wickets to fall on a day that was more about the elaborate covers pattern than anything else, but we enjoyed what we saw. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Women's Ashes Daily, Only Test, MCG Day 2: More drops than Ibiza on the second day of the Test, as England somehow forgot which parts were hands and which parts were feet. In the end, the collarbone was the most secure catching receptacle on the day. In the meantime, Annabel Sutherland forged on her reputation as Perry Mach II, on a very strange day while the mighty MCG broke the record for a women's Test crowd. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sri Lanka Australia Daily, 1st Test, Galle Day 2: Who would've thought Usman Khawaja's first Test double century, now the oldest Australian to get one, would be the day's secondary headline? Thank Josh Inglis for that, who became the 21st Australian man to salute a Test ton at the first time of asking. Adam and Bharat enjoyed that a lot and they're here to tell you more. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Women's Ashes Daily, Only Test, MCG Day 1: The first women's Test at the MCG since 1949 drew a lot more people than they had in 1949, we're betting, as Izzy Westbury joins Geoff at the ground. With Australia bowling first, their XI was a curiosity, but it didn't matter as Alana King kept doing what she does, revving the ball like a motorbike and perplexing England's batters. All that after Afghanistan's women played their first match earlier that morning, with our TFW crew also in attendance at the Junction Oval. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sri Lanka Australia Daily, 1st Test, Galle Day 1: With a simple nudge to mid-on, Steve Smith moved to another special level, completing his mission to 10,000 Test runs. But he was far from done, going on to post three figures for the 35th time, as Usman Khawaja made a ton of his own for the first time since June 2023. Adam and Bharat are two tired boys on the roof at Galle. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sri Lanka Australia Daily, 1st Test, Galle preview: Another day, another series. Plenty of conjecture around the Australian squad about how the team will be constructed in Galle, so why not go to two journalists who always have their fingers on the pulse, Bharat Sundaresan and Andrew Fidel Fernando. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 17, Ep 21: Izzy Westbury joins for a weekly show, and there's a genuine question on the table. Tom Curran is the latest Englishman to go perambulating for no particular reason while the ball was live, then to think he was entitled to be spared the consequences. Also, the run-up to the Women's Ashes Test and the Australian men's Sri Lanka Test, a belting win for West Indies in Pakistan, some peculiar scorecards from Malayia for the women's under-19s tournament, Rocky Flintoff hits some dingers, and Sophie Devine hits the brakes. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Women's Ashes Daily, 3rd T20, Adelaide: Another match, another stop on the procession. Beth Mooney has been in brilliant touch all series, and outscored England on her own in a virtuoso performance. Meanwhile, a vintage set of fielding highlights decorated the other half of the innings. Isabelle Westbury is in no mood to hold back, joining Geoff from Adelaide. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Women's Ashes Daily, 2nd T20, Canberra: We finally got a close one, a real genuine close one, with Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Heather Knight turning it on in pursuit of Australia's big score that was built by Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, and crowd favourite Grace Harris. But the way this ended has to be seen (or heard about) to be believed. Absurd scenes at Manuka. Isabelle Westbury joins Geoff Lemon. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 17, Ep 20: After four straight losses, England's women aren't handling the trip to Australia well. What's going on with them? Meanwhile Australia's men head to everyone's dream destination, the UAE, on the way to Sri Lanka. In the meantime, Aus A and the CAXI are both taking on the England Lions, and Kurtis Patterson is catching a helicopter out of prison. The BCCI get Jetstar to consult on their player baggage policy, and there's a special anniversary of the Quiney Nine. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Women's Ashes Daily, 1st T20, Sydney: England talked up their chances in the 20-over segment of the tour, and Australia had a couple of big omissions with injury, so it was time for new players to do their thing. Phoebe Litchfield certainly did hers, Alana King came back for her first match in the format in nearly two years, and Sophia Dunkley returned to England colours with a blazing bat. A run-fest at the SCG. Isabelle Westbury joins Geoff Lemon. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's Story Time, our walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, the third of our Sleuth Group episodes, with historian Pat Rodgers joining us at an empty Comedy Store in Sydney, recorded a few hours before our last live show of the national tour. Can't stop, won't stop. Back to the start of the Sheffield Shield, to the gradations of which cricket terminology means what, to a little-mentioned world record, and a listener's beloved player who dug in hard for little success. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 11.00 - Nick Ibis 85.00 - Amanjeet 11.30 - Nigel Browne 26.94 - Sanjay Nitran Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Women's Ashes Daily, 3rd ODI, Hobart: Ash Gardner has been a superstar for a while, but one thing has eluded her. A century for Australia. Not any longer, after her massive repair job when England made the early running. And let's throw in the best catch of her career. Bharat Sundaresan joins Geoff Lemon. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Greatest Season That Was - The Final Frontier – Colin Miller: During the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia, The Greatest Season That Was pod focused its attention on the relationship between the cricketing giants over the decades, some 20 years from the staggering 2001 encounter in India. After the home side came back from the dead at Kolkata, it was all to play for in Chennai. Could Steve Waugh’s men now respond, or had the tide been irreversibly turned by VVS, Dravid and Harbhajan Singh? One call made by the visitors was to bring in a second spinner – a man they called Funky. Fresh from being named as Australia’s Test player of the year, the versatile veteran put in a fine performance in another thriller, which came ever so close to getting the job done. Adam Collins, Dan Brettig and Shannon Gill spoke with Colin Miller where he was living at the time, Las Vegas. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Women's Ashes Daily, 2nd ODI, Junction Oval, Melbourne: Endings don't come much more ridiculous than this. England bowl brilliantly, field well, falter with the bat but still have the chance to tie up the series on level points after two games. And then... that. What the hell just happened? Alex Malcolm from Cricinfo joins Geoff to try to break it down. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 17, Ep 19: For the first time in who knows how many years, we missed a weekly show amid the Sydney Test, live show, and travel. So there's a fortnight to catch up on, starting with the Women's Ashes commencement and structure, then into Australia's picks for the Sri Lanka Test tour and the Champions Trophy. Also this week, Shakib is still chucking it, the Big Bash hots up, Glenn Maxwell hits 10 sixes as you do, South Africa are late-night texting the Irish, a vintage shirt hunter finds his white whale, and we hear about the retirements of Tamim Iqbal and Marty Guptill. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Women's Ashes Daily, 1st ODI: One series ends, another begins, at Final Word Towers. The biggest bilateral series in the women's game is up and running in the multiformat structure that plays ODIs before T20s and a Test. At North Sydney Oval, England started off with some promise, but ended fighting Australia no more than they were fighting themselves. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Greatest Season That Was - The Final Frontier – Mike Kasprowicz: During the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia, The Greatest Season That Was pod focused its attention on the relationship between the cricketing giants over the decades, some 20 years from the staggering 2001 encounter in India. Of all the moments in that riveting series, none live in the memory quite like the Kolkata Test, where Australia were bossing the hosts and enforced the follow-on. What happened goes down as one of cricket’s great partnerships, decisive in turning in the tide against Steve Waugh’s men. One of them was Mike Kasprowicz – a man who became his generation’s subcontinental specialist. He joined Adam Collins, Daniel Brettig and Shannon Gill to recall the Eden Gardens epic. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's Story Time, our walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week gradually builds into one of our more absurd episodes, as we get sunburnt on the south bank of the Yarra River with Nerd Pledge Sleuth Group member Glenn Finkelde. Glenn brings the tale of one of first-class crickets most substantial and poignant anomalies, among some appropriate loops back to previous MCG high points, and the tale of an original anti-fascist agitator who was very much our kind of guy a century ago. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 2.22 - Tom Sloan 26.00 - Glenn Finkelde 2.00 - John Leather 19.19 - Michael Cooney Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Sort your super with CBUS on their 40th birthday: cbussuper.com.au Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices