Season 12, Ep 8: Always mix sport and politics, we say, so of course we had to start today's show with some reflections on Australia's federal election and the fact that a raft of dross has been washed downstream. What else? An interview with journo Tim Wigmore and economist Stefan Szymanski about their new collaborative book Crickonomics. Plus the cricket as Sri Lanka tour Bangladesh and the county champ reaches its season break. Your Nerd Pledge number this week: 4.40 – Ben Helliwell Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com 20% off primo WoodstockCricket.co.uk bats with the code TFW20 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. This week, what a show this turned out to be. The Lion King returns, as does The Nanny, a fair bit of karaoke, Morticia Addams, some of the nerdiest areas that TFW listeners have ever led us to, and the missing Bowen Big Mango. Plus the wildest coincidence in the history of this show. Tune in. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 2.00 - Jonathon 3.62 - Bharat Agarwal 5.27 - Alex Brown 3.27 - Steve Lofthouse 5.18 - David Nicholls 2.04 - Vivek Arcot 5.26 - Simon McInerney 3.70 - Samuel Chappell Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find other episodes at finalwordcricket.com Revisits: Owen, Edward Edgcumbe, George Pearson, Josh Goleby, Duncan Davies, Elliott Diamond, Chris Beattie, Matt May. 20% off primo WoodstockCricket.co.uk bats with the code TFW20 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 12, Ep 7: Another sad week for Australian cricket with the loss of Andrew Symonds, so we dialled in Queensland's own Robert Craddock, who watched that career from when Andrew was a brilliant youngster. Also this week, England name two new coaches for their men's teams, CEO Tom Harrison belatedly sees the door, and we speak with a 40-year-old cricketer on international debut, Gabor Torok. Your Nerd Pledge number this week: 7.27 – Hugo Connery Here's the funding link we mentioned for Brasil Cricket too. gogetfunding.com/cricketbrazil Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com 20% off primo WoodstockCricket.co.uk bats with the code TFW20 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.

We're ready for Story Time but logistics got the better of us - back with cricket history next weekend. Instead, before Adam leaves Dubai, we thought it would be worth getting Associate Professor Deirdre McGhee to discuss her important work with Breast Research Australia, which she has been bolstering at the FairBreak Invitational. You can learn more about the project at https://www.uow.edu.au/science-medicine-health/research/bra/ Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find other episodes at finalwordcricket.com 20% off primo WoodstockCricket.co.uk bats with the code TFW20 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 12, Ep 6: Adam is roaming the Fairbreak International, bringing friends new and old onto the show: Brazil captain Roberta Moretti with her wicket-taker Laura Cardoso, Hong Kong player Mariko Hill, and Malaysian captain Winifred Duraisingam, who are all having a fine time. On the darker side of the cricket coin, England authorities are clearly keen to pick Joe Clarke this year, despite his close link to an assault case. We look at the moral implications of choosing representative players. Your Nerd Pledge number this week: 2.32 – Caroline S. Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com 20% off primo WoodstockCricket.co.uk bats with the code TFW20 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. This time, tales of thwarted ambition, tales of brief moments in the sun, and tales of lengthy honeymoons with just a smidgen of cricket thrown in. Plus we go around at some crunchy revisits and sort them out right smart. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 6.53 - Daniel Maloney 5.86 - Al Saunders & Graham 2.14 - Sami Dowd 6.66 - Edward Edgecumbe 17.86 - Jacob Norton Revisits: 5.13 - Stuart Akers 9.02 - Charlie Ryan 1.33 - Ed Simba 4.80 - Dave Brown 3.89 - Chris Beattie 11.33 - Pip Clark Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find other episodes at finalwordcricket.com 20% off primo WoodstockCricket.co.uk bats with the code TFW20 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 12, Ep 5: Some books come along that command our attention, like when friend of the show Will Macpherson helped former cricketer Patrick Foster write his tale. It's a story of 2 million pounds lost to betting in 10 years, in a compulsion that overtook Patrick's life and the lives of those around him. Also this week, Australia's squads for Sri Lanka, Ben Stokes formalised as England captain, and Adam's county wrap. Your Nerd Pledge number this week: 16.90 – Owen Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com 20% off primo WoodstockCricket.co.uk bats with the code TFW20 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 skip through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This weekend, the second part of our high-speed revisit round where we happen upon the tale of a man who was there with Bradman and co in 1948 but never on the main stage, before landing back on players like Boonie and Keppler Wessels who lived their careers in the limelight. Between times, we swing through Florida, find another Chesney and go back to where it all began for New Zealand. Your Nerd Pledge revisits this week: 1.76 - Sam Ashworth 2.27 - Sheetal Potdar 4.10 - Timothy O’Meara 3.46 - Keelan O’Reilly 2.70 - Daniel O’Connell 3.05 - Tim Manning 3.41 - Richard L 5.37 - Elliott Diamond 4.80 - Dave Brown 2.44 - Mike Dunn 1.92 - Shannon Blackmore 1.76 - Cameron Allen 8.81 - Glenn Finkelde Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find other episodes at finalwordcricket.com 20% off primo WoodstockCricket.co.uk bats with the code TFW20 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 12, Ep 4: After 14 years wearing the national uniform, England's swing magician has decided to call it a day. Anya Shrubsole will be remembered for plenty of highlights, but is also the kind of person who is upfront about the low points as well. She joins The Final Word to look back on playing through an era of unprecedented change in the women's game. Your Nerd Pledge number this week: 1.33 – Ed Barr-Simm Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com 20% off primo WoodstockCricket.co.uk bats with the code TFW20 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. This week, it's time to get dirty. The question is, with the pedal to the floor, just how many revisits can we charge through in a single show? The answer is... lots. Get ready for a different tempo Final Word. Your Nerd Pledge revisits this week: 5.12 - Paul Reeve 4.07 - Six Again 20.15 - Ramaswamy 2.19 - Matt Near the Gabba 4.17 - Rob Jean Valjean O'Neill 1.58 - Rooto 3.44 - Cameron M. 1.40 - Michael Ball (sans Michael Bell) 4.31 - Graeme Innes 5.24 - Brad Truter 4.64 - Adam Tunney 2.52 - Danny Strickland 2.78 - Rahul Venkat 3.41 - Conor Prendergast 1.84 - Indi 5.53 - Mark Bagworth 1.56 - Clint 2.83 - Claire Danny Daniel 5.28 - Michael Edelstein Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find other episodes at finalwordcricket.com  Get 20% off Woodstock Cricket kit with code TFW20 at woodstockcricket.co.uk Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Season 12, Ep 3: As is now tradition, here's our annual conversation with Lawrence Booth alongside the release of the Wisden Cricketers' Almanack for 2022. As ever, it's a thoughtful, sharp and vital read: on the topics that matter most, the good book doesn't miss. But of course, there's still ample room for fun, nostalgia and the rest.  Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com 20% off primo WoodstockCricket.co.uk bats with the code TFW20 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 12, Ep 2: Geoff and Adam reunite after a big news week. Joe Root quit England's captaincy, Anya Shrubsole quit England's team, Andrew McDonald got his inevitable promotion, and Rob Key got a rather more surprising one. Some truly bonkers stuff happened in county cricket, and Nerd Pledge features Lou Bega. Your Nerd Pledge number this week: 3.45 – Harry Tognetti Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com 20% off primo WoodstockCricket.co.uk bats with the code TFW20 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. Joining Geoff for your long trips on your Easter weekend, Bharat Sundaresan is back on the show before his own long drive from Adelaide to Sydney, detouring via the birthplace of Justin Langer's favourite Australian, Albert Jacka. But on this episode we spend most of our time on the Teardrop Isle, in between visiting Darude, the MCG in 1903, and the brief time in the sun of Loretta Davis. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 4.35 - Aravind Rao Karanam 4.76 - Eranda Jayawickreme 1.93 - Tane Aikman 5.57 - Matt May 5.28 - Paul Murphy & Michael Edelstein 1.76 - Cameron Allen, Srikanth Agaram & Sam Ashworth 8.81 - Glenn Finkelde Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find other episodes at finalwordcricket.com  Get 20% off Woodstock Cricket kit with code TFW20 at woodstockcricket.co.uk Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Season 12, Ep 1: Another season premiere! We go around for the twelfth time - can't and won't stop. With Geoff away (he's back next week), Daniel Norcross will play. And what better time for it with county cricket back? We go long on that, as we do the latest on the Jimmy and Stuart saga, before doing a lap of the planet. Then later, Adam talks to Justin Smith about his lovely cricketing novel, Cooper Not Out.  Your Nerd Pledge number this week: 3.46 – Keelan O’Reilly Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com 20% off primo WoodstockCricket.co.uk kit with the code TFW20 Check out Brick Lane Brewing on Instagram,FB and Twitter 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. This week, Daniel Norcross is back but in the chair for Geoff this time. And both he and Adam end up landing on a similar topic: inappropriate post-war county captains and how they found themselves in the job. Specifically, a man named Mandy - it's worth sticking around for the end of the show, this tale is worth it. Also featured: Curtly, Warnie and Sexy David Hookes.  Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 4.51 - Joshua Goleby  2.05 - Sam Littlejohn 4.64 - Adam Tunney 4.10 - Sam Nemzer, Timothy O'Meara & Slim Johns 4.17 - Rob O'Neill & Andrew Donnison 2.83 - Claire Danny Daniel 2.69 - James Blundell  Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find other episodes at finalwordcricket.com  Get 20% off Woodstock Cricket kit with code TFW20 at woodstockcricket.co.uk Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Season 11, Ep 23: With Geoff taking a break to chill out after the Pakistan trip, Daniel Norcross is back in the chair alongside Adam, recording in London as a new English season prepares to bloom. For this, they are joined by Essex recruit Matt Critchley, who we are tipping will take the nation by storm over the coming months. But before coming to what’s ahead of us, there’s the little matter of Australia’s barnstorming World Cup win with some time taken to consider the challenges for those trying to catch the world champs three years from now. Your Nerd Pledge number this week: 2.24 – Mike Dunn Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com 20% off primo WoodstockCricket.co.uk kit with the code TFW20 Check out Brick Lane Brewing on Instagram,FB and Twitter 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. This week, Daniel Norcross hops in to give Adam some recovery time, and perhaps not coincidentally the show is all about leg-spinners and long-distant Caribbean cricket. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 3.47 - Paul Harmer 2.70 - Daniel O'Connell 11.33 - Philippa Clark 4.80 - Dave Brown 3.44 - Cameron M 5.37 - Will Cuckson & Elliott Diamond 5.46 - Richard Bond McNally 3.03 - Eric Parnis 7.51 - Ben Woolgar Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find other episodes at finalwordcricket.com  Get 20% off Woodstock Cricket kit with code TFW20 at woodstockcricket.co.uk Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Season 11, Ep 22: We're back from Pakistan. Adam decidedly worse for wear after his car crash, but he'll still prop up on some cushions and record an ep of The Final Word. Can't stop, won't stop. The women's World Cup finals are imminent, so we look ahead to those contests. Also moves are afoot for women's T20 comps in Pakistan and India, while the England men's Test team get thumped once again, this time by West Indies. Your Nerd Pledge number this week: 2.27 - Sheetal Potdar Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com 20% off primo WoodstockCricket.co.uk kit with the code TFW20 Check out Brick Lane Brewing on Instagram,FB and Twitter 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. This week, it's our last night in Pakistan, so there's a very special configuration: with Adam already on the way to the airport and Geoff a few hours away from doing the same, Bharat Sundaresan joins TFW as a guest host for the first time. Safe to say that this episode gets extremely Bharat. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 1.84 - Indi 3.05 - Tim Manning 5.13 - Kieran & Stuart Akers 5.15 - Bharat Sundaresan 1.92 - Shannon Blackmore & Keith Williams Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find other episodes at finalwordcricket.com  Get 20% off Woodstock Cricket kit with code TFW20 at woodstockcricket.co.uk Check out Brick Lane at bricklanebrewing.com Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia won the 3rd test against Pakistan, claiming the series 1-0.  The Final Word will be at every day of Test cricket in this series, with Adam Collins and Geoff Lemon at stumps doing The 30 Second Summary, The Hall of Fame, and covering all of the action. Find our other episodes at finalwordcricket.com Support the show at patreon.com/thefinalword Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Usman Khawaja performed on the big stage yet again, knocking a superb unbeaten century as Australia take control in the 3rd test in Lahore.  The Final Word will be at every day of Test cricket in this series, with Adam Collins and Geoff Lemon at stumps doing The 30 Second Summary, The Hall of Fame, and covering all of the action. Find our other episodes at finalwordcricket.com Support the show at patreon.com/thefinalword Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia put on a fine performance on day 3, bowling out Pakistan for 268. The visitors avoided losing a wicket in the evening session, ending the day 11/0. The Final Word will be at every day of Test cricket in this series, with Adam Collins and Geoff Lemon at stumps doing The 30 Second Summary, The Hall of Fame, and covering all of the action. Find our other episodes at finalwordcricket.com Support the show at patreon.com/thefinalword Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pakistan bowled out Australia for 391, and the hosts ended day two 90/1 in Lahore. The Final Word will be at every day of Test cricket in this series, with Adam Collins and Geoff Lemon at stumps doing The 30 Second Summary, The Hall of Fame, and covering all of the action. Find our other episodes at finalwordcricket.com Support the show at patreon.com/thefinalword Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Usman Khawaja just missed out on another century in Pakistan, hitting 91 runs. The hosts claimed 3 wickets in the evening session, leaving Australia 232/5 on day one in Lahore. The Final Word will be at every day of Test cricket in this series, with Adam Collins and Geoff Lemon at stumps doing The 30 Second Summary, The Hall of Fame, and covering all of the action. Find our other episodes at finalwordcricket.com Support the show at patreon.com/thefinalword Support the show: https://patreon.com/thefinalword See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Season 11, Ep 21: Coming live from the lush city of Lahore, it's another Final Word. The Karachi epic done with and there is one Pakistan-Australia Test to come. We talk about the experience of this tour, the Women's World Cup, and what West Indies and Sri Lanka have been up to against England and India. Your Nerd Pledge number this week: 4.31 - Graeme Innes Send us a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com 20% off primo WoodstockCricket.co.uk kit with the code TFW20 Check out Brick Lane Brewing on Instagram,FB and Twitter 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.