The Final Word Cricket Podcast

The Ashes, 3rd Test at Headingley, Day 2: It was all set up with a Yorkshire pair coming to the middle in Yorkshire, but Pat Cummins had other ideas. Then Mark Wood had other ideas to that. Then Ben Stokes had the same idea as Ben Stokes usually has. Has there been a normal day of cricket in this series? No! The hits just keep on coming, as do the Steve Smith bright ideas. Until he started batting...

The Ashes, 3rd Test at Headingley, Day 1: Here we are in Leeds. A fast track, plenty of pace and bounce, and a fast bowler to make use of it with Mark Wood coming back. But, wait, a minute, what's that? Is that... is that Mitchell Marsh's music? What an opening day of the third Test! Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Visi...

The Women's Ashes, 2nd T20 at The Oval, Day 7: The series is alive! England needed to win five in a row to have a shot at taking the trophy off Australia... and they have their first. A record-breaking night at The Oval: crowd, runs, and the bloody length of that Georgia Wareham six. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Visi...

The Ashes, 3rd Test at Headingley, Day 0: Just three days since Lord's and we'll be back in action at Leeds, in one of the more febrile Ashes environments imaginable. The day before play, Bharat Sundaresan has already been having some run-ins with the local Yorkshire police, and Adam is at Headingley with him while Geoff heads to the Women's Ashes game in London. England have made a stack of chang...

Season 14, Episode 22: A day after the wildness at Lord's, we look back and try to take its measure. Meanwhile, in the world beyond the ground, the story has only got bigger. Adam and Geoff try to puzzle out the conflict. Then we speak to Wisden's Yas Rana about English cricket's ICEC report into discrimination, and the recommendations to change it. Plus the World Cup qualifiers and - at last - a...

The Ashes, 2nd Test at Lord's, Day 5: What the absolute fridge. That was Headingley Mach II for a while, with Ben Stokes reaching heights that seemingly only he can find. It was a grudge match, too, with Lord's ridden with angst. And it was a fast bowling vindication in the end, as the bouncer war was finally won. Angry fans, discontent, invocations of the Spirit of Cricket, and some very ugly sce...

The Women's Ashes, 1st T20 at Edgbaston, Day 6: A stunning day for women's cricket, with nearly 20,000 filling Edbgaston for the start of the T20 series. Daniel Norcross and Henry Moeran were there with Geoff and Adam sidelined by the scheduling clash with the Lord's Test. A Sophia Dunkley milestone, an Amy Jones hometown moment, and another ice-cold Beth Mooney masterclass would follow. Support t...

The Ashes, 2nd Test at Lord's, Day 4: The days don't get any quieter. Bouncer wars. Bizarro Steve Smith stuff. Nathan Lyon batting on one leg. A late burst from Mitchell Starc, a late burst from Pat Cummins. Another controversial catch, or non catch. The chance of a big chase, still alive overnight, with Ben Stokes still there. We had it all. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thef...

The Ashes, 2nd Test at Lord's, Day 3: If life is all about about learning things and getting better, then England missed that directive. More madness on the third day at Lord's, before the Australians responded with sanity, though this came amidst a bowling contest that was as gripping as they come. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalword...

The Ashes, 2nd Test at Lord's, Day 2: What on earth was that? Another manic day of Test match cricket as England were set a challenge and went after it in wild style. Nobody knew what they were seeing, but most of them had some fun. Plus a bunch of Steve Smith records, and an injury that could shape the series. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes...

The Ashes, 2nd Test at Lord's, Day 1: After a lot of talk, it's time for the second Test. England won the toss and bowled under cloudy skies, but things went every which way from there: some David Warner, a lot of Steve Smith, and a healthy dash of Joe Root involved. Quite the occasion in front of a packed crowd. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episode...

Adam and Rachel's Wedding, Day 1: You asked, so you shall receive. Adam decided to get married in the middle of an Ashes series, so his wedding gets the regular TFW Daily treatment, from the rooftop drinks reception after the ceremony in central London. Thanks to previous TFW guest hosts Daniel Norcross, Bharat Sundaresan, Isabelle Westbury, Ben Jones and Henry Moeran. And yes, Geoff did his shopp...

Season 14, Episode 21: It’s all we talk about. Everyone who watches cricket will go on about the pitch - too flat, too fast, too dry, too green - and almost none of us knows anything about them How are they made? What do the adjectives mean? What is the process? In a special request episode for Enthusiast level Nerd Pledger Simon Wallace, we find out, with Lord’s head groundsman, or curator if you...

Women's Ashes Test, Trent Bridge, Day 5: We're never got to type that before! It ended quickly on the fifth morning, but a memorable result with a very memorable Ash Gardner performance. A double ton plus two ten-wicket matches? Stop it. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Visit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see ev...

Women's Ashes Test, Trent Bridge, Day 4: Ok, the rollercoaster has started again. This match twisted and turned on Day 4 in ways that we would not have anticipated on the previous three. A glorious session from England, then a terrible one, a remarkable solo performance from Sophie Ecclestone, and a day of interesting work from Alyssa Healy. It's all to play for one Day 5. Support the show with a...

Women's Ashes Test, Trent Bridge, Day 3: A historic day: no England woman had ever made a double century before, in any format, and now that has changed forever. Tammy Beaumont, takes a bow. There was plenty of toil for the Australians, then some impressive bowling at the back end. Three days done, and this match could go anywhere from here. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefi...

Women's Ashes Test, Trent Bridge, Day 2: Annabel Sutherland achieved something significant on the second day, and helped her team a long way in the process. But England have responded in barnstorming style as the runs continue to flow. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Visit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see ever...

Women's Ashes Test, Trent Bridge, Day 1: On a fast track with good bounce, the runs flowed and the wickets eventually came. Ellyse Perry made a stunning 99, Australia's next tier of all-rounders made their mark, and Sophie Ecclestone put in a huge shift. Thoroughly entertaining on Day 1. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com...

Season 14, Episode 20: Well, with a night and a day to think about, we can start to come to terms with what we saw in Birmingham yesterday. An extraordinary day, with some bigger themes to come out of it than what we could address in the Daily show looking more at the action on the field. Also this week, our preview of the Women's Ashes Test with Geoff at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, and we look at...

The Ashes, 1st Test at Edgbaston, Day 5: What a finish. What a day. One of the all-time great Test matches, one of the closest results. The rhymes of history were all there, but we didn't think it could be as good. We were wrong. Don't read any more, just listen. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Visit westfield.com/unite...

The Ashes, 1st Test at Edgbaston, Day 4: Hooollly schmackerel. We have a blazing Test match on our hands. England went utterly wild on the fourth day, brilliantly and mad-eyed, especially Joe Root. Australia fought like hell to hold them back, especially Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins. And then England set them 281 to win, when in 2005 this Test required 282. It's fate. There was still time for a Bro...

The Ashes, 1st Test at Edgbaston, Day 3: There was rain, but it only added to the atmosphere in a brilliant short burst on the third afternoon. England were feeling pretty good with the ball but have early worries with the bat. Almost level on the first innings, the Test is brilliantly set up after three days. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes a...

It's Story Time, our weekly walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, a special episode recorded after the first day of the first Ashes Test. A little weariness makes for more contemplation, and a lot more being sidetracked. Come for the cricket, stay for the examination of historical conspiracy theories, and a journey through terrible sport team names. Your Nerd P...

The Ashes, 1st Test at Edgbaston, Day 2: Another ridiculously good day, with a Broad morning and a Khawaja afternoon. Two in two, lots of misses, and the worst hat-trick ball in history - get it all on The Final Word. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Visit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat...

The Ashes, 1st Test at Edgbaston, Day 1: And we're away. England batted first and kinda tried to Bazball, but it didn't entirely come off. Joe Root played a blinder, Jonny Bairstow made a comeback, Harry Brook had one of the strangest dismissals you'll ever see. Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland impressed again, Josh Hazlewood looked good. And there was a real twist ending to the day. Find out about it...