What a rearguard, what a fight. Sneh Rana, Shikha Pandey, Taniya Bhatia, Deepti Sharma and Shafali Verma were all among the stars as India fought back from following on to save the Test against England. Meanwhile, in the men’s final, New Zealand chose to bowl first and had some success with Kyle Jamieson and Neil Wagner after some flourish from Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill.  You can support the show at patreon.com/thefinalword. Get 20% off playing kit at WoodstockCricket.co.uk with the code TFW20. Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We got one XI, we didn’t get the other XI, and we didn’t get a toss. Not much to report on after all the build-up to the match at Southampton. Lucky it goes for six days. Across the country though, India’s women were on the field in Bristol, and despite falling just short of the follow-on mark, Shafali Verma continued to break records.  You can support the show at patreon.com/thefinalword. Get 20% off playing kit at WoodstockCricket.co.uk with the code TFW20. Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Season 10, Ep 8: Snehal Pradhan joins the show this week - the former India bowler has become an advocate for women in India, and co-wrote the the report An Equal Hue on the problems and solutions facing women's cricket in the country. Also, our preview of the World Test Championship, Shakib's meltdown in Bangladesh, Tim Paine on troubles with Australia's many-times-quarantining players, Ebony Rainford-Brent's gong, and a surprising appointment to the Cricket Australia board. And yes, this episode came out late. It should have been on Wednesday. Errmm, technical difficulties? Sorry. Your Nerd Pledge number this week: 1.78 - Stewart Duncan Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at  finalwordcricket.com Get 44% off Wisden Cricket Monthly at bit.ly/wcmtfw Get 20% off primo WoodstockCricket.co.uk gear with the code TFW20 Get Geoff’s new book The Comeback Summer The Final Word 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.

What a breakneck day. First it was England’s tailenders swinging the cue with help from Sophia Dunkley. Then it was another player on debut, Shafali Verma, coming within one big hit of a Test century. Smriti Mandhana blazed off the back foot, then England surged back late with wickets aplenty. Short of the follow-on mark, there’s plenty in store on Day 3. Find The Final Word’s longer shows on podcast apps. You can support the show at patreon.com/thefinalword. Get 20% off playing kit at WoodstockCricket.co.uk with the code TFW20. Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It started fast, with Lauren Winfield-Hill launching sixes over the leg side and Tammy Beaumont playing strokemaker as ever. Heather Knight nearly made a ton, Natalie Sciver was in a bombastic mood, but then the wickets started to fall. Sneh Rana and Deepti Sharma did most of the good work, while Sophia Dunkley had some work to do on a historic debut. Find The Final Word’s longer shows on podcast apps. You can support the show at patreon.com/thefinalword. Get 20% off playing kit at WoodstockCricket.co.uk with the code TFW20. Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The formalities were completed, and now New Zealand head into the World Test Championship final on a winning note. But which of their many bowling options will each team choose? Bumrah, Ishant, Shami, Ashwin, Jadeja, Siraj are all top-class for India. Boult, Southee, Wagner, Jamieson, Henry are the same for New Zealand, but space for a spinner is also required, and Ajaz Patel may have gone past Santner. So many options, so little time, as England try to make sense of such a comprehensive defeat. You can support the show at patreon.com/thefinalword Get 20% off playing kit at WoodstockCricket.co.uk with the code TFW20 The Final Word is part of the Bad Producer Podcast Network Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's Story Time, our weekly walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. Today: back to the Smokers v Non-Smokers match for a minute, via a trip to the West Country. An all-time great finish that you won't remember, an unwanted record for drink-mixing, and a whole lot of confusion about x and y and what happens in between. Your new Nerd Pledge numbers: 4.11 – Not That Tim Minchin & Rory Seymour 3.35 – Sam Chappell 3.57 – James Tiernan 3.75 – Matt Keane Plus revisits and confirmations. Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at  finalwordcricket.com  For a discount subscription to Wisden Cricket Monthly, the magic key is bit.ly/wcmtfw Get 20% off Woodstock kit with code TFW20 at woodstockcricket.co.uk The Final Word 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.

The fortress didn’t last for long. Day 3 featured another English batting collapse, too modest to even be especially dramatic, brought on by persistent quality from New Zealand’s bowlers. The Kiwis have almost got this match in their keeping, after a day in fast forward. You can support the show at patreon.com/thefinalword Get 20% off playing kit at WoodstockCricket.co.uk with the code TFW20 The Final Word is part of the Bad Producer Podcast Network Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark Wood had some fun with the bat as England surged on to 303, and Broad got Tom Latham out early. From then on, things stopped going England’s way. Dropped catches, overruled appeals, and a lack of luck for some quality bowling. On the other side, New Zealand just keep finding good new players. This time it was Will Young joining Devon Conway to gradually build up the runs. New Zealand are 74 behind with 7 wickets in hand. You can support the show at patreon.com/thefinalword Get 20% off playing kit at WoodstockCricket.co.uk with the code TFW20 The Final Word is part of the Bad Producer Podcast Network Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A proper twisting turning day of Test cricket started this match off, with a arm wrestle of a first session, a run of wickets in the second, and some tail-end fighting back in the third. England would have been worried earlier but will be fairly happy after Lawrence and Burns found some runs, while Boult returned with the ball for New Zealand to partner well with Matt Henry. You can support the show at patreon.com/thefinalword Get 20% off playing kit at WoodstockCricket.co.uk with the code TFW20 The Final Word is part of the Bad Producer Podcast Network Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Season 10, Ep 7: Vish joins the show in a busy week in England after Ollie Robinson was suspended following his Test debut. We talk through the purpose of his suspension, his history of racist jokes, and what part is played by age – either of the comments themselves or the person making them. Also this week: Dan Christian for Australia! He's in the touring squad. But how many weeks of quarantine is it reasonable to ask of someone? The England women's contracts are announced, the Heyhoe-Flint trophy is full of runs, and Netherlands keep on winning against bigger teams. Your Nerd Pledge number this week: 5.12 – Dominic da Souza Correa 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 Get Geoff’s new book The Comeback Summer The Final Word 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.

New Zealand set up the Test match beautifully on Day 5 at Lord’s but England refused to play ball. What gives? Ollie Robinson is out, and the draw leaves plenty of questions about who will feature in the second Test. You can support the show at patreon.com/thefinalword Get 20% off playing kit at WoodstockCricket.co.uk with the code TFW20 The Final Word is part of the Bad Producer Podcast Network Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What a tussle on the fourth day. Tim Southee finished with six wickets, Rory Burns finished with his best Test century, and England finished up just over a hundred runs behind on the first innings. But with the whole third day lost to rain, it will take something impressive for New Zealand to set up this match for a win. You can support the show at patreon.com/thefinalword Get 20% off playing kit at WoodstockCricket.co.uk with the code TFW20 The Final Word is part of the Bad Producer Podcast Network Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's Story Time, our weekly walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. Today: raise the bat. 50 episodes of this indulgence are somehow in the bag. We'll have both Mad Dogs and Englishmen, midday sun or otherwise. A closer look at the fitting finish to an epic Test series, an exhibition of T20 perfection, some pure filth from 100 years earlier, and the Final Word's party number gets another run. This is also the week for a chaotic attempt at Julio Pledge! The far less accomplished game on the show. Your new Nerd Pledge numbers: 4.19 – Dan Walsh & Alastair Wilson 2.73 – Brian Stratford 3.24 – Dane Hansted 3.69 – Sam Littlejohn 2.13 – Harrison Payne Your Julio Pledgers: Nick Rice Anand Viswanathan Paul Dennett Jagannathan Tiruvallur Eachambadi Ross Davey Alex Pranav Lalan Susheel R Ramasahayam Brian Withington Rob Kingston Eleanor Higgs Richard Oakley Mohit Mark Peckham Matt Whitehouse James Mulcahy Matt Featherstone Peter James Patrick Blondi Josh Williams Tane Aikman Plus revisits and confirmations. Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at  finalwordcricket.com  To help Nick Tewson raise funds for Lord's Taverners with his big bike ride: click here.  To do your own Tavs adventure, look here.  For a discount subscription to Wisden Cricket Monthly, the magic key is bit.ly/wcmtfw Get 20% off Woodstock kit with code TFW20 at woodstockcricket.co.uk The Final Word 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.

He resumed the day on 136 and just kept going. But not everything was Conway’s way. Mark Wood started a speed spell for England, and the match rattled and rolled. Then came Neil Wagner to add some flourish in ways that only he can. NZ’s first innings is wrapped, and England have started a decent reply. You can support the show at patreon.com/thefinalword Get 20% off playing kit at WoodstockCricket.co.uk with the code TFW20 The Final Word is part of the Bad Producer Podcast Network Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Win the toss, bat first, and make a ton. It couldn’t be easier for Devon Conway, who is unbeaten overnight with the highest score ever made on debut at Lord’s. England went with an interesting bowling approach, and couldn’t break through often enough despite a fine show of quality. A proper tussle on the first day. You can support the show at patreon.com/thefinalword Get 20% off playing kit at WoodstockCricket.co.uk with the code TFW20 The Final Word is part of the Bad Producer Podcast Network Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Season 10, Ep 6: Daniel Brettig joins the show to discuss Cricket Australia's new and old appointment as CEO, as well as Dan's own appointment at The Age. We look at a crazy year in the life of Boom Boom Afridi, the upcoming Test between England and New Zealand, the arrival home at last for Australia's players, another round of political strife in Afghanistan cricket, the county wrap and the new World Cup format. Plus another Milk Round. Your Nerd Pledge number this week: 3.65 – Nick Dempsey 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 Check out CBUS Super at https://www.cbussuper.com.au/thefinalword Get Geoff’s new book The Comeback Summer The Final Word 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.

It's Story Time, our weekly walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. Today: a trip across Australia's lines from the Brisbane to the Barassi. Some cryptic stuff about numbers that don't equal other numbers. A couple of the great counterattacks, and the fastest in the world in more ways than one. Jean Valjean is back, along with 1970s beer advertisements and even more time than usual in the 1800s. Your new Nerd Pledge numbers: 5.43 – Cheemgadar & Peder Roberts. 2.22 – Srikanth Agaram & John Tucker 2.00 – Rob O'Neill Plus revisits and confirmations. Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at  finalwordcricket.com  To support Declan Lawlor's Lord's Taveners run along the Thames, click here.  To do your own Tavs adventure, look here.  For a discount subscription to Wisden Cricket Monthly, the magic key is bit.ly/wcmtfw Get 20% off Woodstock kit with code TFW20 at woodstockcricket.co.uk Check out CBUS Super at cbussuper.com.au/thefinalword Get Geoff’s new book The Comeback Summer The Final Word 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.

Season 10, Ep 5: Is he the first live-streaming superstar? The cricket world turned to a dodgy video feed from a gale-struck Canterbury as Darren Stevens produced one of the more audacious innings in the first-class game. Fifteen sixes later, he nearly reached a double ton while his batting partner made 1 run. It was just the latest in a series of scarcely believable episodes in an unusual cricketing life, having turned into a bowler at 35 years of age and still playing at 45. He joins the Final Word to talk through all of it. Also! Friend of the show and sometime co-host Isabelle Westbury joins us to discuss a week of major stories about the treatment of women players by the Indian board, and we're back with some vintage Winnie News and a brand new Milk Round. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 1.22 – Peter Brown 12.22 – Ollie Chauhan 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 Check out CBUS Super at https://www.cbussuper.com.au/thefinalword Get Geoff’s new book The Comeback Summer The Final Word 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.

It's Story Time, our weekly walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. Today: the innings that even Robelinda agrees could have been the best of all. A player with the same number in a whole lot of categories. The genius behind the Doug Ring Cycle, another of the great comebacks, catching a few at the beach in Bellingen, and the Final Word's most shameful miss in the history of this show. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 1.46 - Al Saunders 4.29 - Daniel O'Connell & Brook Quinn 2.28 - Harry Wojciechowski 5.40 - Jim Carnegie & Chris Prout Plus revisits and confirmations. Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com You can help the Lord's Taverners via Declan's run of the Thames here. And the Alan Igglesden campaign we mentioned is here, for Test cap #540. Get 20% off premium kit from WoodstockCricket.co.uk with the code TFW20 Check out CBUS Super at cbussuper.com.au/thefinalword The Final Word 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.

Season 10, Ep 4: Horror movies teach us that if you don't nail the monster properly, it always comes back. Australia's ball-tampering story was never buried properly the first time around. This week we speak to Peter Lalor about the news side of the story that won't go away. We also cover various squads, the county championship, and have a breezy chat with Australia's nearly-there cult hero Michael Neser.  Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 7.70 - Eranda Jayawickreme redux 1.34 - John Trevelyan Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at  finalwordcricket.com Get a discount Wisden Cricket Monthly subscription at bit.ly/wcmtfw Check out CBUS Super at   https://www.cbussuper.com.au/thefinalword Get some primo gear from Woodstock Cricket with 20% off full-priced kit. Enter the code TFW20 at woodstockcricket.co.uk Get Geoff’s new book The Comeback Summer The Final Word 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.

It's Story Time, our weekly walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. Today: how to rate a big day on the field against the big night preceding it. A look at Indian royalty next to an English character who was everything but. Some very early work from Ireland and from southern Africa. And we solve a couple of recalcitrant revisits that had traps laid in the clues along the way. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 3.17 - Matt Smith 2.28 - Vivek Arcot 3.79 - Laksmi Govindasamy 1.24 - Eric Pritchard 5.06 - Matt May Plus revisits and confirmations. Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at  finalwordcricket.com Get some primo gear from Woodstock Cricket with 20% off full-priced kit. Enter the code TFW20 at woodstockcricket.co.uk Check out CBUS Super at   https://www.cbussuper.com.au/thefinalword Get Geoff’s new book The Comeback Summer The Final Word 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.

Season 10, Ep 3: This week on The Final Word, a long and uplifting conversation with a man who really has done it all in the professional game across nearly six decades, known around the cricketing world by a simple moniker: Bumble. Always ready with a laugh and a story, always willing to give a kind word, and loved accordingly. Before that we look at how Australia's players are getting on in the Maldives, the county champs round, and Pakistan's fun time against Zimbabwe.  Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 4.17 - Scott Munroe 12.19 - Shane Fagg Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at  finalwordcricket.com Get some primo gear from Woodstock Cricket with 20% off full-priced kit. Enter the code TFW20 at woodstockcricket.co.uk Check out CBUS Super at   https://www.cbussuper.com.au/thefinalword Get Geoff’s new book The Comeback Summer The Final Word 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.

It's Story Time, our weekly walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. Today: a Dusty Old Bastard with a very particular trick. A deep dive into some of the finest slow merchants ever to operate out of India, a look at a couple of speedsters from either side of the ditch, and a Final Word familial link to Bodyline. All before a trip down Root 66.  Your new Nerd Pledge numbers: 9.06 - Basab Majumdar 2.86 - Alasdair Townsend & Sean McGivern 3.00 - Tim Harding & Alex Brown Plus revisits and confirmations. Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword  Find previous episodes at  finalwordcricket.com  Declan Lawlor, what a guy! In conjunction with Lord's Taveners, he's running the length of the Thames. Get behind him if you can.  If his story inspires you to also raise a few dollars for the Tavs, take a look at their solo-events for 2021.  Also, click here to participate in the Sunshine Coast University survey on The Final Word. Tuck into Rob Kingston's alphabet challenge. For a discount subscription to Wisden Cricket Monthly, the magic key is bit.ly/wcmtfw Get 20% off Woodstock kit with code TFW20 at woodstockcricket.co.uk Check out CBUS Super at cbussuper.com.au/thefinalword Get Geoff’s new book The Comeback Summer The Final Word 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.

Season 10, Ep 2: The IPL has been cancelled, Sri Lanka won a Test series, and there was a bonkers county round. But honestly all we really want to do this week is hang out and chat with Elly Oldroyd. She's done everything as a sports broadcaster, from a dozen Olympics to Ashes tours and major tournaments, having blazed her way into the job on the BBC back in the 1980s and 1990s. She's also become the expert commentator for royal weddings and funerals. And she's got stories for days. Stop by and spend some time. Your Nerd Pledge number this week: 2.10 – Matt near the Gabba & MJ Knoester 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 Check out CBUS Super at   https://www.cbussuper.com.au/thefinalword Get Geoff’s new book The Comeback Summer The Final Word 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.