The Final Word Cricket Podcast

Season 17, Episode 9: A career total of just 10 Test Matches belies the imprint made on the game by Alex Tudor. A quick bowler who burst onto the scene in an Ashes series and made his presence felt right away, he was always good enough to mix it with the best. Injuries curtailed his international career, but his love for cricket – and continued involvement in it – has never ceased. He spoke with A...

Season 17, Episode 8: The format of the World Test Championship has been a stick to whack it with since day dot. However, the unintended consequence of the model in place has become a feature not a flaw with five teams now in the hunt thanks to New Zealand’s stunning three-nil victory over India. For the first time in a long time, Adam has Izzy Westbury (from an undisclosed location) with him to c...

The Greatest Season That Was - The Final Frontier episode 2 - Gavin Robertson: During the last Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia, the pulsating summer of 2020-21, 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. Three years earlier, the dynamic was very diff...

It's Story Time, our walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, our love affair with Wangaratta grows through the story of a journeyman in the wickets against the Windies. With Daniel Norcross with Adam, long answers are inevitable and roads less travelled too – what would Australia be like had Matthew Hayden taken the chance to run for parliament? A rare triple hea...

Season 17, Episode 7: It’s a complicated cricketing universe – more by the month. But the joys of a Test Match, however unexpected, remain unrivalled as we saw in India and Pakistan this week. For this conversation, Adam has fellow romantic Bharat Sundaresan with him. They start with a hectic week of speculation in Australia (along with retirements, contracts, collapses and suspension cessations!)...

Season 17, Episode 6: Before Ben Duckett boarded the plane to Pakistan, where he started in blistering form, the England Test opener sat down with Adam and Geoff in London. On the cusp of turning 30, he’s in all probability at the mid-way point of his career and never been more established as an international batter. Having first came across Duckett in a tour game nearly a decade ago, the conversa...

It's Story Time, our walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, a special hosting combination with Andy Zaltzman on the Nerd Pledge tools for the first time since September 2019 (!), with his old mate Daniel Norcross. And what did they find? Well, for one, that left-handers can be ugly too. From there, a bit of Deano and a lick of Davo. Later, Greigy’s off-spin revi...

Book Club 7: Glenn Maxwell & Adam Collins - The Showman You might’ve heard… we did a book. It was a team effort. The Showman, of course, has Maxi telling the story of a remarkable year in his life leading up his World Cup miracle, within his already fascinating career in the global game. Adam co-authored it with him through the course of 2024. And Geoff was the editor, putting the finishing touche...

Season 17, Episode 5: David Warner is at it again - available for selection! But no, that won't be happening. There's nobody better to be co-hosting with Adam than Alex Malcolm from ESPNcricinfo, who is across every inch of the Sheffield Shield at this fascinating time of the year. From there, reflections from the Women's World Cup, a lap around the Test-playing world, and further concerns about t...

The Greatest Season That Was - The Final Frontier - Harsha Bhogle: During the last Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia, through the pulsating summer of 2020-21, 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. There was nobody better to call upon than Harsha B...

Women's T20 World Cup, final, New Zealand v South Africa: They did it! Daniel Norcross and Cameron Ponsonby are on the scene. Go Ambassador cruising with Goochy, Aggers, Blowers and Alex Tudor from December 12-19! Pick up 10% off with finalword10 at checkout here - www.ambassadorcruiseline.com Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your Nord VPN discount - nordvpn.com/...

It's Story Time, our walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, it’s the formidable combination of Bharat Sundaresan and Daniel Norcross - born for these roles. Follow the tale of Geoff Chubb, the South African on the Lord's honours board who was imprisoned by Rommel, then look at India’s forgotten victory over the West Indies that was the catalyst for Fire in Babyl...

Women's T20 World Cup, semi-final 2 - New Zealand/West Indies: No matter what, there will be a new team winning the Women's T20 World Cup with New Zealand holding off the Windies in a thriller to earn the right to play South Africa on Sunday. Daniel Norcross and Cam Ponsonby are two very excited co-hosts - join them for their instant reaction from Sharjah. Go Ambassador cruising with Goochy, Agger...

Women's T20 World Cup, semi-final 1 - South Africa/Australia: South Africa stunned the red-hot favourites Australia to win with ease and advance to Sunday’s final. It was an all-round performance for the ages from the Proteas, with Australia left to ponder how it all went so wrong. Cam Ponsonby and Daniel Norcross discuss an incredible result. Go Ambassador cruising with Goochy, Aggers, Blowers an...

Season 17, Episode 4: After all the time we spent talking about Cam Green's back last week, it has now ruled him out of the summer, and opened up a spot for openers. Away we go again, with all the Australian Shield performances, Australia A picks, and their ramifications. Also this week, Pakistan go full Pakistan after England's ridiculous win, Shakib goes full Facebook brain while retiring, Sanju...

Women's T20 World Cup, Day 13 - West Indies/England: Whoa. England, undefeated and flying, did everything right until they didn't. The Windies, smashed in their opening game of the tournament, have bounced them from the comp and vaulted into the semis themselves via Net Run Rate on a dramatic final night in Dubai. Find out more with Daniel Norcross and Cam Ponsonby. Go Ambassador cruising with Goo...

Women's T20 World Cup, Day 12 - New Zealand/Pakistan: After an early wobble that raised India’s hopes, New Zealand steadied the ship against Pakistan to win comfortably through to a semi-final that not many had predicted at the start of the tournament. Daniel Norcross and Cameron Ponsoby review the action from Dubai as we near the business end of this tournament. Go Ambassador cruising with Goochy...

Women's T20 World Cup, Day 11 - England/Scotland, Australia/India: An injury-hit Australia showed they are still deserving of their favouritism, holding their nerve against India in a high-scoring gem. That leaves Harmanpreet Kaur’s side on the brink. Meanwhile, England smashed Scotland to beef up their net run rate at the perfect time. Here’s Daniel Norcross and Cam Ponsonby. Go Ambassador cruisi...

It's Story Time, our walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, there is one club with some supporters who believe it is the entire cricket world. But what happened when it had to go toe to toe? Also, did we just find the most sacked man in cricket? We've got one of the most recognisable, along with one of the most unusual injuries. Another fun show this week. Your...

Women's T20 World Cup, Day 10 - New Zealand/Sri Lanka, South Africa/Bangladesh: Amelia Kerr and Georgia Plimmer saw off Sri Lanka’s total with ease but not quite convincingly enough to move into outright 2nd place in the group on NRR. The White Ferns will be banking on a favour from their Trans-Tasman cousins over India to help ease their path into the semi-finals. In the second game in Dubai, Sou...

Women's T20 World Cup, Day 9 - Australia/Pakistan: Australia cruised to their third win of the tournament but not without serious injury concerns. A shoulder dislocation to speedster Tayla Valeminck and a foot injury to captain Alyssa Healy could open the door to their challengers iat the pointy end of the tournament. Daniel Norcross and Cam Ponsonby take up the conversation in our nightly wrap fr...

Season 17, Episode 3: Henry Blofeld, or Blowers, as he’s universally known, was a staple of cricket broadcasting in England for half a century. First calling internationals in the early 1970s, he was central to Test Match Special becoming a national institution as a much-loved voice in that famous commentary box. He narrated the game around the world until 2017 when he hung up his BBC mic. Having...

Women's T20 World Cup, Day 8 - West Indies/Bangladesh: We're at an interesting point in the group stage where each game changes the vibe. With that in mind, it was so important the Windies came to play against Bangladesh and play they did, banking a healthy Net Run Rate boost at Sharjah. As ever, join Daniel Norcross and Cam Ponsonby for their nightly wrap. Go Ambassador cruising with Goochy, Agge...

Women's T20 World Cup, Day 7 - South Africa/Scotland, India/Sri Lanka: The time had come for India to light a fire under their tournament and they have done so against Sri Lanka, scoring the highest total of the World Cup so far. Earlier, South Africa did their Net Run Rate plenty of good as well, bouncing back after their loss to England a couple of days ago. At Dubai Sports City, join Daniel Nor...

Season 17, Episode 2: It's time for Mr Sheffield to rise again, which means the annual jostling for national position begins in earnest. Some players are rested, some are tested, some are bested, while Michael Neser is inevitably fastest to impress-ted. England get their Test tour of Pakistan going without Ben Stokes, Shan Masood tons up, the Women's T20 World Cup is up and running, Sanath Jayasui...