The Final Word Cricket Podcast

It's Story Time, our weekly walk through cricket history. This week, the originator of hair-replacement therapy, the first Australian cricketer with an earring (probably), the man who allegedly brought punk to cricket (not really). You know who we mean. Also, one of the few huge innings to deserve full acclaim, a legend's early foray into something different, and the brief flourish of a player who...

T20 World Cup Daily, 2026, Super 8s, Day 21 – England/New Zealand: A tournament that seemed destined for certainty was thrown into chaos by a late England comeback. We now need to wait until Sunday to find out not only who will be in the semi-finals, but also where they will be played. Attempting to untangle the permutations is Fidel Fernando, who joins Geoff Lemon. Support our show with a Nerd Pl...

T20 World Cup Daily, 2026, Super 8s, Day 20 – India/Zimbabwe, South Africa/West Indies: What a difference a day of cricket makes. A powerhouse display from India and a meek top-order collapse from the West Indies have set the scene for a de facto quarter-final between the two in an old-fashioned Sunday night blockbuster. Firdose Moonda joins Daniel Norcross. Support our show with a Nerd Pledge at ...

T20 World Cup Daily, 2026, Super 8s, Day 19 – New Zealand/Sri Lanka: New Zealand’s unassuming captain delivered his presence at the crease to turn around The Black Caps stuttering tournament hopes. Sri Lanka will look at the first 14 overs of the match and will wonder what happened afterwards. Senior Writer for Cricinfo, Fidel Fernando, joins Adam Collins. Support our show with a Nerd Pledge at ⁠⁠...

T20 World Cup Daily, 2026, Super 8s, Day 18 – England/Pakistan: The tournament’s most perplexing team are the first through to the semi-finals, but how? Harry Brook joined a rare club with the bat, but it still was almost for nothing. What’s the route for Pakistan to go through to the knockout stage? Matt Roller joins Bharat Sundaresan. Support our show with a Nerd Pledge at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Season 19 Episode 29: After being dumped out of the T20 World Cup, the next question is whether that will affect Australia's qualification for the 2028 Olympics. Also this week, shadowbans of Pakistan cricketers look set to extend from the IPL to most of the other T20 leagues in the world. Once again, follow the money. Australia's women are having a tussle with India, there's a big Shield round, a...

T20 World Cup Daily, 2026, Super 8s, Day 17 - West Indies/Zimbabwe: It was a proud day for Zimbabwe as they landed in Mumbai to kick off their inaugural Super 8’s campaign in the Men’s T20 World Cup. It won’t be a day that either their fans or India fans, for that matter, will remember fondly. Firdose Moonda joins Daniel Norcross. Support our show with a Nerd Pledge at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

T20 World Cup Daily, 2026, Super 8s, Day 16 - India/South Africa, England/Sri Lanka: A capacity crowd in Ahmedabad were shocked to silence by a powerful South Africa, who provided a blueprint on how to overcome the tournament favourites. Earlier, England continued their stuttering march through the World Cup. Are they the best of the worst? Fidel Fernando joins Daniel Norcross. Support our show wi...

It's Story Time, our weekly walk through cricket history. This week, who are the greatest pair of Cambodian cricketers, and what special skills did they have beyond their work on the field? Also, a multinational career unknown to us, a time of truce, and some rare exceptions to a huge career that otherwise went a different way. Your Nerd Pledge numbers for this week: 12.50 - Adam T 9.55 - Thomas M...

T20 World Cup Daily, 2026, Day 14 – Australia/Oman: Australia did as you might expect with their campaign officially over, obliterating Oman. But Adam and Bharat Sundaresan are also keen to explore the broader topic of the nation's weird relationship with T20 cricket. Onwards to the Super 8s! Support our show with a Nerd Pledge at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

T20 World Cup Daily, 2026, Day 13 – Zimbabwe/Sri Lanka, Afghanistan/Canada, West Indies/Italy: Zimbabwe go through to the Super 8 stage unbeaten. They’re a serious team making serious strides. West Indies held back a spirited Italy, and Afghanistan bade an emotional farewell to coach Jonathan Trott. Firdose Moonda joins Daniel Norcross. Support our show with a Nerd Pledge at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

T20 World Cup Daily, 2026, Day 12 – South Africa/UAE, Pakistan/Namibia, India/Netherlands: If it's universally accepted India are the team to beat, are South Africa the most likely to knock them off? They've flown under the radar into an undefeated group run and face the men in blue in their Super 8 opener. Meanwhile, Pakistan are straight back on the bike, as three teams say goodbye. Adam Collins...

T20 World Cup Daily, 2026, Day 11 – Zimbabwe/Ireland, Scotland/Nepal, New Zealand/Canada: It’s not often that the story of the day doesn’t feature any of the six teams scheduled to play. A washout at Pallekele sentenced Australia to an early exit from the World Cup and sealed Zimbabwe’s progress to the Super 8 stage. We begin the post-mortem on Australia’s campaign. Elsewhere, Nepal and Scotland w...

Season 19 Episode 28: The big game happened, and once again the cricket was a non-event, but have we finally reached a tipping point where something might be done to prevent getting this close to peril in future? Also this week, the Australian men in trouble, the Australian women start a new era with a loss, we go around the domestic grounds, and we have our Tour of Australia segment with Emma Joh...

T20 World Cup Daily, 2026, Day 10 – UAE/Afghanistan, England/Italy, Sri Lanka/Australia: A quite stunning run-chase, led by the brilliant Pathum Nissanka, has seen Sri Lanka sink Australia and quite possibly end their campaign too. Huge. Meanwhile, England got it done against Italy but we're still none the wiser if they're any good, and Afghanistan did as they must but won't escape their group. Ad...

T20 World Cup Daily, 2026, Day 9 – Nepal/West Indies, USA/Namibia, India/Pakistan: Was there ever any doubt? India charges on after another Pakistan capitulation at the hands of their rivals. Earlier, the USA impressed again as the Windies suggest they're going to be a real handful in the Super 8 stage. Andrew Fidel Fernando is at Colombo; he's with Bharat Sundaresan. Support our show with a Nerd...

T20 World Cup Daily, 2026, Day 8 – Ireland/Oman, England/Scotland, South Africa/New Zealand: Are England going to be a contender? Does anyone know? They're back on the winners list, that much we do know. Meanwhile, South Africa are up and about, and Ireland are still a chance of making the Super 8s. Today, we have Daniel Norcross with Nathan Joey Johns. Support our show with a Nerd Pledge at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

T20 World Cup Daily, 2026, Day 7 – Zimbabwe/Australia, UAE/Canada, USA/Netherlands: What a performance from Zimbabwe, shocking Australia at a World Cup for the third time. Later in the day, a brilliant UAE chase and then a disaster for the Dutch. We have Daniel Norcross, who was on radio broadcasting on the huge upset in Colombo, joining Adam Collins. Support our show with a Nerd Pledge at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

It's Story Time, our weekly walk through cricket history. This week, how did group chats work in the 1800s? Plus, the 1800s Facebook friend, the all-star era of frugal bowlers, a Danish disaster, and the series that Dale Steyn could not believe he didn't win. Join us for a fun one. Your Nerd Pledge numbers for this week: 19.25 - Stephen Westwood 7.43 - Richie B 4.32 - Jack Rule 2.96 - James Spragu...

T20 World Cup Daily, 2026, Day 6 – India/Namibia, Italy/Nepal, Oman/Sri Lanka: A red-letter day for cricket in Italy, taking points at this stage of the World Cup for the first ever time. India were out to flex their considerable muscle against Namibia, and Sri Lanka were out to do the same against Oman. Cameron Ponsonby joins Adam Collins Support our show with a Nerd Pledge at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

T20 World Cup Daily, 2026, Day 5 – Afghanistan/South Africa, Australia/Ireland, England/West Indies: The tournament roared into action on a scarcely believable day. Afghanistan and South Africa kicked us off with one of the most memorable international T20 finishes of all time, a double super-over that saw fortunes see-saw with each of the final 30 deliveries of the match. Elsewhere, Australia sen...

Season 19 Episode 27: They're back, baby. Pakistan were never going to stay away, were they? After a big pow-wow, they have agreed to play India after all. Also this week, some wholesome Sheffield Shield, our second-last Tour of Australia segment with Emma John, and we catch up with MCC Laws boss Fraser Stewart. Australia brings memories that last a lifetime. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Australia.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Suppo...

T20 World Cup Daily, 2026, Day 4 – Netherlands/Namibia, New Zealand/UAE, Pakistan/USA: Pakistan are on the board, but do they have what it takes to touch India? It's the main question for Adam and Andrew Fidel Fernando. And how about those Black Caps? They could not be going any better. As for the Dutch, they've been the best associate on show so far. Get 15% off Step One Men’s and Women’s underwe...

T20 World Cup Daily, 2026, Day 3 – South Africa/Canada, Zimbabwe/Oman, Scotland/Italy: South Africa were eager to show that they weren’t going to suffer a scare against an associate in their opening fixture, but could Canada take some paint off the tournament hopefuls? Elsewhere, the Italian team made their big stage debut against comparative veterans Scotland, and Zimbabwe were out to open their...

T20 World Cup Daily, 2026, Day 2 – New Zealand/Afghanistan, England/Nepal, Sri Lanka/Ireland: England nearly turned back the clock to become an associate member scalp but held their nerve in the end against the rising Nepalese, before Sri Lanka and Ireland played one that won't be spoken of in hushed tones. Earlier, the Black Caps banked an important early result against an Afghan team that made i...