The Final Word Cricket Podcast

Season 18, Episode 6: Richard Gould has always been up for a lively chat over the years, whether that was in his previous gig as the boss at Surrey or since taking over England cricket's top administrative job in 2022 and this is no different. Here, two years after our previous visit to his office, the chief executive at ECB towers talks through what is shaping up as a vital period ahead both at home and on the global stage. A worthwhile conversation - we got through plenty. Tickets for the 18th of August - get them quick and bring your mates: uk.emma-live.com/WormsleyFinal2025 Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Sort out expat finances with Odin Mortgage & Tax: odinmortgage.com/partner/the-final-word Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.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 18, Episode 5: It's official: Dan Worrall is one of the five cricketers of the year in the 2025 edition of the Wisden Cricketers' Almanack following a third dominant season at Surrey where they completed a county threepeat. From a lower-grade club spinner in Melbourne to the South Australian Shield team to the Aussie one-day team to then deciding to pack it all in to go full-time in England, he's the definition of a modern journeyman. And now the 33-year-old finds himself in the mix for a call-up to the England Test team having now met the eligibility criteria to change countries. So, there was a fair bit to sink our teeth into when we caught up as he us through his unorthodox and intriguing journey in the professional game so far. Tickets for the 18th of August - get them quick and bring your mates: uk.emma-live.com/WormsleyFinal2025 Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Sort out expat finances with Odin Mortgage & Tax: odinmortgage.com/partner/the-final-word Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.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, a wild tale from early colonial history about Australia's first political assassination, and how it links to the first Test match in 1877. Also, a heatwave with an Arctic deviation, the masters of so near and yet so far, and a tribute to the influence of Shannon Doherty and Tori Spelling. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: Lachlan K - 4.80 Simon Rae-Woods - 4.77 Angus Calder - 4.16 James Ralston - 9.02 Mike Wood (revisit) - 4.63 Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Or 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find help from Odin Mortgage & Tax: odintax.com Contact Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 18, Episode 4: Over the years, we've had the company of many people who have an involvement in cricket without it being their day job. But none have had as many letters after their name to reflect their massive careers. Mervyn King's life in economics has been just that, teaching at some of the finest universities in the world before moving into policy, where he went on to become the long-standing governor of the Bank of England. That term included the period of the Great Financial Crisis of 2008, where he became one of the world's most important figures in finding a way out of that shock. Now well retired from these posts, he's been able to give much of himself to the game he's loved since growing up in the 1950s, serving this year as the president of MCC. In the Lord's pavilion, he spoke with Adam about that role approaching a complex period of transition in the international game before stretching out to discuss his huge career. Tickets for the 18th of August - get them quick and bring your mates: uk.emma-live.com/WormsleyFinal2025 Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Sort out expat finances with Odin Mortgage & Tax: odinmortgage.com/partner/the-final-word Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.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 18, Episode 3: Great news this week that after years of campaigning, the ICC board has agreed to support Afghanistan's women cricketers in exile. Details aren't yet clear but the principle is. Also this week, more Olympic news, James Anderson is made a knight, a hefty county round includes some sizzling finishes, and there was an even better one in the unofficial Australia-England Test starring Charli Knott. Tickets for the 18th of August - get them quick and bring your mates: uk.emma-live.com/WormsleyFinal2025 Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Sort out expat finances with Odin Mortgage & Tax: odinmortgage.com/partner/the-final-word Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.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

That's right, we've been kindly offered the chance to play on Wormsley, one of the most beautiful cricket grounds in the world, with The Final Word XI set to take on our mates at Zero Ducks Given on Monday the 18th of August. It's a superb opportunity for us to raise money for The Lord's Taverners, the charity close to both podcasts, so we came together for this chat (a collaboration, if you will) with Toby Tarrant and Daniel Norcross. Tickets are available in the below link: £20 to watch or £90 to have a day out in the marquee. Book the day off work now! Tickets for the 18th of August - get them quick and bring your mates: uk.emma-live.com/WormsleyFinal2025 Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Sort out expat finances with Odin Mortgage & Tax: odinmortgage.com/partner/the-final-word Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.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, Adam and Geoff reunite from The Oval in London, and as luck would have it, this show includes two separate stories featuring a great Oval moment and a great Oval player. It also, rather less expectedly, includes the story of the Australian Shahid Afridi, who did so many miles from Traralgon to Doncaster that he earned the right to tweak a birth certificate or two. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 2.21 - Kennedy H. Ross 4.62 - Jim Carnegie 4.53 - Paddy Considine 8.18 - Andy Newton 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 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD If you're looking for Odin Mortgage & Tax: odintax.com Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 18, Episode 2: It can't be easy putting red-ball cricket first as a modern West Indian cricketer, but that's exactly what Kemar Roach has done. Throughout a long and winding international career the start in 2008, and is still going strong 17 years later, the quick from Barbados has always given complete commitment across 85 Test Matches. Back in London for his fifth stint with Surrey, after playing a key role in their county threepeat, he joined Adam at The Oval to reflect on his adventures in the game. In doing so, he wasn't short of an opinion about the importance of financing Caribbean cricket in a way that gives them the best chance to enjoy consistent success once again. And all done with a big smile on his face – a terrific guest. 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 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Sort out expat finances with Odin Mortgage & Tax: odintax.com Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 18, Episode 1: The new season begins! It begins with a triple century in the county championship, among a slate of brilliant finishes. It also begins with a sad formal farewell to the sport from Will Pucovski. And as tends to be the way, our episode finds its way through governance changes and scheduling questions into some peak 90s light entertainment. Settle in for Season 18: we can vote, but we still can't drink in America. Your Nerd Pledge revisit for this week: 3.43 - Sam Ashworth 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 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Sort out expat finances with Odin Mortgage & Tax: odintax.com 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, Daniel Norcross is back with Geoff for a short and sweet Story Time that somehow turned into this. It begins with Jeremy Coney's preferred method of staving off hyenas, and goes on through pondering who is Daddy, why we remember certain names, who was on the verge of weeping through his entire long career, and who may have wept after his very short one. The ticket is free, take the ride. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 5.08 - Elliott Hoffman 16.28 - Rafael Szumer 7.14 - Chris Holt 4.44 - Martin Smith 3.70 - Damo B 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 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD If you're looking for Odin Mortgage & Tax: odintax.com Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 17, Episode 35: Welcome to episode three in our series of interviews with county cricketers at the top of their games. It's opening day today with Lancashire visiting Lord's. After being relegated at the end of 2024, the job for the men representing the Red Rose is obvious – to bounce straight back up. And when it comes to posting their runs over the next six months, it'll be their skipper who sets the tone. Keaton Jennings has enjoyed a great run over the last five seasons at the top of the list. At age 32, he's now deep into a career that has taken him from captaining the South African Under 19s to making a Test ton on debut for England. It's been a while since his last international cap, but he's never been far from the thoughts of selectors given he's shown that he can cut it with the best. In this interview, he provides great insight to what it's like trying to master the mental side of the game and how that's liberated him to play his best cricket in recent years. Intelligent and self-aware, he's another outstanding guest. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Odin Mortgage and Tax are the number one mortgage and tax specialist for Australian expats and overseas residents: odinmortgage.com/partner/the-final-word Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.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, Episode 34: As the Mighty South Aussies finally took home another Sheffield Shield and completed the domestic double, Australia's national contracts came out, which raises interesting questions about who will be defending the World Test Championship title in June. In other matters this week, Ben Stokes' body is not a wonderland, James Anderson stuns the world by straining a calf, St Kilda punish Carlton in grade cricket, and the end for the Gabba becomes clear. Your Nerd Pledge revisit for this week: 5.30 - Richard Jones 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 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD If you're looking for Odin Mortgage & Tax: odintax.com Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 17, Episode 33: Welcome to our second interview in a series with county pros at the top of their game as season 2025 begins. Jack Leach's career has been an unusual one - a Test spinner best known for the most significant 1 not out in modern Test nistory. But when he has the ball in his hand, he's been a matchwinner or England. And when he's had the backing of the powers that be, he's seen as one of the most important players in the dressing room. In our conversation, we speak with one of Taunton's favourite sons as he prepares for another crack at getting the county championship trophy to Somerset for the first time. A great guest. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Odin Mortgage and Tax are the number one mortgage and tax specialist for Australian expats and overseas residents: odinmortgage.com/partner/the-final-word Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.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, Episode 32: The English season is upon us, with the county championship starting this week. And in keeping with the comprehensive coverage we've given to that competition over many years, we thought this would be the right time to roll out a series of feature interviews with some of the best county pros out there. One man who meets that criteria is Middlesex opener, Sam Robson. A man who played Test cricket in 2014, he's been an enduring presence at the top of the list at Lord's, earning a testimonial year for 2025. Another interesting part of his story is that he's an Aussie too, having decided to carve out a life over here after playing for the Australian Under 19s. And as you'll hear now, Sam has also earned a lot of respect as someone who is both intelligent and thoughtful. The ideal player to chat with as season 2025 begins. 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 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, Cameron Ponsonby joins Geoff to make his Story Time debut, representing a younger generation of badgerdom. And we do badger: detouring from Australian legends to patchy West Indies number threes, encouragement from Australian legends to promising West Indies number sixes, and an unexpected discovery of one of the most bonkers first-class scorecards we have yet unearthed on this program. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 13.68 - Liam James 2.37 - Manish Achuth 2.60 - Nick Cimdins 5.11 - Daniel Kelly 6.70 - Thé Rod 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 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

Jarrod Kimber was a trailblazer in how the modern game was covered, disrupting press and commentary boxes in the best possible way. But throughout his interesting career, he's always been an author, and his latest offering includes all the passion and insight you would expect as he goes deep on a simple yet essential topic – making runs. Once he and Adam have finished with that, they move onto another area that has dominated much of their lives over the last little while, neurodiversity. And within that, how they've written books by harnessing how their brains are hardwired rather than letting it become an unclearable hurdle. Pre-order The Art of Batting from bloomsbury.com/uk/art-of-batting-9781399416542 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 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 31: Yes, we said the wrong episode number. Let's all be grown-ups about that. We're leading up to the Mr Sheffield Shield final, while Queensland's former captain Usman Khawaja smacks down his home state association for putting out false stories. Meanwhile, the sackings have started after England's surrender tour of Australia for the Women's Ashes, we have some new nonsense for the World Test Championship structure, and then the first segment of a season regular: the IPL with Ben Jones. Your Nerd Pledge revisit for this week: 3.21 - Ed Henty 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 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, Bharat Sundaresan joins us for tales from the beginning of India's national team, and the inadvertent birth of the BCCI. Gandhi flashes some kneecap, before we turn back twice through the tale of a heist-master who had one more job in mind. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 5.93 - Rama Subramanian 8.05 - Michael Holden 6.26 - Cam Tero 3.39 - Nick Mildenhall 3.01 - Matthias Hine 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 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

99 years ago, England was in turmoil, leading to unprecedented industrial action. What kept the country together? In no small part, so goes the thesis of Stephen Brenkley in his beautiful new book, a terrific last-gasp Ashes victory - the first time they had defeated the Australians in a series since before the First World War. A Striking Summer – How Cricket United a Divided Nation, paints a vivid picture of post-war Britain and the tourists who made the 1926 Ashes something to behold, with champions filling both teamsheets. He joins Adam. 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 sales@macinneswhisky.com 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

In November 2023, we interviewed with David Gower for over an hour and a half but still had plenty of his massive story still to tell. With Adam speaking with the former England record run-scorer at a Lord's Taverners event in London last week, they picked up from where they left off, moving from the 1989 Ashes through to the end of his playing career then on to becoming one the game's most substantial broadcast voices. A man we have a lot of admiration and respect for, not least due to the remarkable amount of time he puts into the Tavs, where he's serving a fifth year as president in 2025. Enjoy. 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 sales@macinneswhisky.com 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, Ep 29: It wasn't a good week for Stu MacGill, with a guilty verdict in court but on a pretty minor criminal count. That doesn't begin to reflect how strange the story was though, with family conflict, kidnapping, and the inevitable dodgy conduct from NSW police. In other news, Saudi Arabia's entry into cricket is being teased again, via a tournament whose proponents including the Australian players' union. Yep, it's a weird week. All the news we could find, as the final Shield round wends towards its conclusion. 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

It's Story Time, our walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, an all-time thrilling finish involving a classic Australian side, a trip back to rare winter cricket under the roof, the high craft of a maligned spinner at his best, and all the cherubim and seraphim who come to mind via a heavenly fast-bowling presence who an English county is unaccountably trying to thieve. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 2.26 - Ryan Smith 11.75 - Rhys Morgan 3.55 - Justin English 6.29 - Craig McGowen 2.21 - Graham Parker 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 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 season finale 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 speaking with a range of excellent guests, it was time to end the story with a conversation between Adam Collins, Shannon Gill and Daniel Brettig about what they had learned making the series. 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 sales@macinneswhisky.com 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, Ep 28: We've been excited about the 150th anniversary Test scheduled for 2027, so it was deflating to see the news that Cricket Australia have planned for it to be day-night. A range of specious arguments will try to cover for the fact that it's about the overseas TV market. Also this week, some Champions Trophy wash-up, Steve Smith's ODI retirement, South Australia on track for a domestic double, while the Shield final might be moved to Adelaide Oval if the logistics can be pulled off. Also this week Sabina Park won't have lights in time for their own pink-ball Test in Jamaica, the regional women's T20 World Cup qualifiers are coming up with our favourite Brazil team involved, and perhaps the first case of a player being dismissed in cricket for having fallen asleep. Your Nerd Pledge revisit this week: 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 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

A variation on our Book Club, this time we turn to film with a man well known to Final Word listeners, Tony Wilson. We change sports too, to (round ball) football. Why? The tale of Ange Postecoglou is fascinating one, and the influence of all-time great Ferenc Puskás - when they combined together at South Melbourne in the ‘90s - is central to it. With Cam Fink having shot and edited Ange and the Boss, who has also worked with us on many Final Word mission, this felt like a perfect fit. A joyous story with Melbourne migration at its core. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find out where you can see Ange and the Boss around Australia: angeandtheboss.com 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 sales@macinneswhisky.com 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 Final, India v New Zealand, Dubai: A tournament tailor-made for Indian success has ended with just that, the best team getting the trophy they came to the UAE for. The Black Caps earned themselves a route to victory with their spinners after dark, but they just didn't have enough runs. Daniel Norcross and Danyal Rasool recap the Dubai decider. 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 sales@macinneswhisky.com 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 Final preview semi-final, India v New Zealand, Dubai: The time has come. A tournament on a platter for the men in blue, they simply must stick the landing against the Black Caps, right? Andrew Fidel Fernando is at Dubai Sports City, and having heard the pre-game press conferences, he's with Daniel Norcross to preview the big one! 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 sales@macinneswhisky.com 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're obviously going to end up at Shane Warne's sideline as a handyman, but before we get there it's going to be a meander through several facets of the career of someone who ended up on the wicket tally right behind him, and another of somebody who should have had a Test tally closer to those two than the number he ended up with. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 1.27 - Peter Newbould 8.96 - Lesley M 6.00 - David Martin 4.90 - Miranda Debeljakovic 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 sales@macinneswhisky.com 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 2nd semi-final, New Zealand v South Africa, Lahore: What a performance from the Black Caps with the bat, storming into another ICC trophy decider against India. At Lahore, we have Danyal Rasool from cricinfo, and he's 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 sales@macinneswhisky.com 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 Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 sales@macinneswhisky.com 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 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 sales@macinneswhisky.com 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 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 sales@macinneswhisky.com 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 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 sales@macinneswhisky.com 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 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 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

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 sales@macinneswhisky.com 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 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 sales@macinneswhisky.com 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 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 sales@macinneswhisky.com 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 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 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 20% off your cask of MacIness scotch whisky! ICCWHISKYCRICKET20 is the code 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 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 sales@macinneswhisky.com 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 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 sales@macinneswhisky.com 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 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 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

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 sales@macinneswhisky.com 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 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 sales@macinneswhisky.com 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 Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices