The Final Word Cricket Podcast

England India Daily, 1st Test, Headingley, Review: Daniel Norcross and Ben Jones assess a wild Test match in Leeds that was… actually quite predictable when you break it down day by day. Is this the end of batting first in England? Daniel seems to think so. Joe Root continues to be unnervingly nerveless in run chases. Looking to Edgbaston, how will the bowling lineups look? Will Akash Deep or Arsh...

England India Daily, 1st Test, Headingley Day 5: England do it! They pull off the 10th-highest chase in history. A lacklustre India provided only scant challenges, as an England batting lineup, turbo-charged by Ben Duckett, put India to the sword. What does this mean for India? A “Bumrah Test” is lost, and Guatam Gambhir is now 3 wins, 7 losses, 1 draw in tests. India are the first team in first c...

West Indies Australia Daily, 1st Test, Barbados Day 0: A ground packed with history, a country that has produced more superstars than any in the region - it's a privilege to be at Kensington Oval. When the Frank Worrell Trophy series begins, it will be as Australia "reset" (in their words) for a new WTC cycle having lost the big one at Lord's, with the Windies trying to start afresh themselves und...

England India Daily, 1st Test, Headingley Day 3: What was Harry Brook thinking? And before that, the same question applies to Jamie Smith. Also, how have England reached parity with only one ton compared to three? But here we are, dare we say evenly poised, after an inspired bowling change just before tea by Shubman Gill. You may be able to guess who he turned to. Support the show with a Nerd Pled...

England India Daily, 1st Test, Headingley Day 2: Rishabh Pant made it three tons for India on Day 2 with a rollicking century. But with an Ollie Pope blinder, England fought back to limit the damage, then held their grip despite some Bumrah blows. They could be out of it tomorrow, but they’re still in it right now. Ben Jones joins Daniel Norcross. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

England India Daily, 1st Test, Headingley Day 1: “We’ll have a bowl.” It's not done yet, but Ben Stokes may live to regret that call, as a new generation of India batters feast on listless bowling. What’s England’s way back into the game? Ben Jones thinks there could be an opening. And for India, were the new superstars already here, and has Rishabh found his groove this early? Here's to teeing of...

England India Daily, 1st Test, Headingley Day 0: It's about to begin. Five Test matches between two huge teams, with Ben Stokes and the bish-bash brigade versus a new-look India with Shubman Gill at the helm, and Rishabh Pant as the devil on his shoulder. It could go absolutely anywhere. Daniel Norcross joins Geoff Lemon. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/thefinalw...

Season 18, Episode 19: Still in the afterglow of South Africa’s World Test Championship win, apparently the real hero is… board chair Jay Shah? You may think we’re talking about him a lot lately, but ask the ICC camera crews that slavishly followed him around. Also this week, Virat Kohli chooses a very pointed moment to back Test cricket, the new cycle begins, there’s trouble with Tassie’s stadium...

It's Story Time, our walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, we go back to the northern summer of 1990 when the pitches and balls were as flat as each other, ruining bowlers across the UK. Earlier, Adam explored the forgotten hero of the first Test ever played and Geoff told the unhappy story of three siblings who struggled at the top. Your Nerd Pledge numbers th...

World Test Championship Final, the day after: When South Africa fell short in the T20 World Cup Final last year, it was Dan Gallan who we called upon to explain the deep hurt. So, as promised, he returns the day after a massive celebration to put into words why the Proteas' triumph means so very much. Also, an eye to Australia's "reset", which begins in Barbados next week. Support the show with a...

World Test Championship Final, Day 4: They bloody well did it. South Africa and winning finals - that hasn't been a pairing that has seen much airtime in international cricket. Things didn't look good this time around either. But after a remarkable final push, it is offical: South Africa are the World Test Champions. It matters for so many reasons, and right now it is a wildly emotional day at Lor...

World Test Championship Final, Day 3: South Africa have looked the underdog throughout this WTC final, but halfway through the third day, that all changed. Even the torment that Starc and Hazlewood put them through with the bat was washed away, as Aiden Markram put together the innings of his life. But they're not done yet, and for South Africa, the last part of the climb has so far proved too har...

World Test Championship Final, Day 2: If Rabada fired on day one, Cummins fired back on day two, in a battle of fast-bowling quality that any preview could and should have predicted. Then it was Lungi Ngidi's turn to exert an influence, in a match hurtling towards a conclusion but that could easily go either way. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/thefinalword⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

World Test Championship Final, Day 1: South Africa needed to do some damage with their quick bowlers early to challenge Australia, and they did exactly that. It set up a tight contest through the day, with Lord's in fine voice, before Australia's quicks had their own say by the close. A shootout might well be on. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/thefinalword⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

World Test Championship Final, Day 0: It's here. Two years of Test cricket ends with a decider at the ground where it was always designed to be when it was first dreamed up - Lord's. The teams are as ready as they're ever going to be, the XIs named, and we're ready to roll with Adam enjoying Bharat Sundaresan's company as they run through the lot of it. Here we go. Support the show with a Nerd Ple...

Season 18, Episode 18: Cricket Australia's new CEO came ready to talk when sitting down with Adam at Lord's two days before the WTC Final. Typically at this point, we list what was discussed but this time, but it'd be easier to identify what didn't come up in one of the busiest eps we've ever recorded. What's obvious: Todd Greenberg is a man determined to make his time in the top job count and isn...

It's Story Time, our walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, who is the most significant Test cricketer who doesn't even have one line of a Cricinfo bio? We've got a top contender, then it's over to you. Also this week, a different twist on Pakistani marathons, the Irish-India connection, and one of the worst to wield the willow. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this wee...

Season 18, Episode 17: The IPL turned 18 this year, old enough for Royal Challengers Bangalore to finally buy a celebratory drink after falling short in every season. Virat Kohli and co will be happy, as will Ben Jones in our IPL segment, after picking Krunal Pandya way back at the start of the season to be the difference. Before that, World Test Championship lead-up, Karun Nair and Kurtis Patters...

Season 18, Episode 16: A special ep today – yes, Glenn Maxwell has retired from One Day International cricket. In this exclusive conversation, he explains that decision in his own words, the timing and wider context. From there, we went back to the beginning to the tell the story of Maxi the one-day mainstay, in a mighty career that in this format that spanned 14 years and included two World Cup w...

It's Story Time, our walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, almost silent and almost deadly, was Malcolm Marshall the best to ever fire down the ball at pace? Also, when a couple of Australians went big, the one with a triple and the one who threw it away. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 2.15 - Liam Fallon 3.76 - Ben McLeod 2.51 - Oliver Jawara 8.54 - Alex B...

Season 18, Episode 15: As England took care of Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, India's new-look Test squad has arrived, with glamour option Shubman Gill leading the side, but we're much more excited about the comeback trail for Karun Nair and a first chance for our emotional investment, Sai Sudarshan. In other news, Big Ange is on the way out (not that one), Ireland are making runs, Hayley Matthews is s...

It's Story Time, our walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, one of the peaks of the peak, that isn't talked about as often as some others. Also, another run-looter of prodigious proportions, one of the best combinations ever, and have we found the most dynamic start to a career? Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 5.01 - Julian Russell 2.04 - Matt 4.40 - Jane Se...

England v Zimbabwe, Trent Bridge Test, Day 3: Ben Jones joins Daniel Norcross. DONATE TO OUR EDINBURGH RUNNERS BELOW. Is Shoaib Bashir coming of age? Can Ben Duckett see over Blessing Muzarabani’s pads? Why we shouldn’t write off England’s bowlers for Sean Williams getting on top of them. Will the accurate Sam Cook’s 78mph top speed be an issue for more potent batting lineups? Will Josh Tongue be...

England v Zimbabwe, 1st Test, Trent Bridge Test, Day 2: Cameron Ponsonby joins Daniel Norcross. Zimbabwe put up the fight that many thought was beyond them, or did they? Depends on the time of day and who you ask. Has Brian Bennett played the innings of the summer? Has Mark Butcher delivered the whimsy of the summer? England’s bowlers enforced the follow-on, but will it count for those who don’t w...

England Zimbabwe Daily, Lord's Test, Day 1: It's England Test season, with Zimbabwe back for the first time in 22 years - but they may wish they'd given it a miss, after England piled up the runs. So, do you love or hate Zak Crawley? Will Jacob Bethell come straight back in for Ollie Pope, even now? Do you believe in the new 'humble England'? And just what in the hell is caffeinated beer? Cameron...