

The Final Word Cricket Podcast
Adam Collins, Geoff Lemon
Cricket for everyone – your friendly guide to the world's strangest sport. Geoff Lemon and Adam Collins combine match analysis with irreverence, politics, interviews and history as they follow the game they love around the world. You can support the show at patreon.com/thefinalword.Get your big NordVPN discount: https://nordvpn.com/tfw
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 31, 2025 • 39min
The Best & Worst of 2025
Season 19, Episode 19: Happy New Year! Time for another Final Word tradition, the best and worst in cricket of 2025. This past year was one with a lot of good in it, as well as one where some trends that could define the future became much more clear.
Get your copy of Bedtime Tales for Cricket Tragics: linktr.ee/tfwbook
Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword
Stop snoring with 5% off a Zeus device: use code TFW2025 at zeussleeps.com
Get yourself some lovely BIG Boots UK, with 10% off at this link: https://www.bigboots.co.uk/?ref=thefinalword
Try the new Stomping Ground Final Word beer, or join Patreon to win a case: stompingground.beer
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au
Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw
Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD
Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com
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Dec 30, 2025 • 44min
No retirement signal from Usman Khawaja
Season 19, Episode 18: With another longer than expected pause between Tests, thoughts turn to Sydney and the end of the series. But there is no sign yet of a farewell lap from Usman Khawaja. Will he try to play on, and dare selectors to drop him? Or is he just being discreet until the moment comes? Also this week, New Zealand's cricket boss quits after a power struggle, Brett Lee joins the Hall of Fame, the Big Bash is working as intended, and key England administrator Hugh Morris has died.
Get your copy of Bedtime Tales for Cricket Tragics: linktr.ee/tfwbook
Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword
Stop snoring with 5% off a Zeus device: use code TFW2025 at zeussleeps.com
Get yourself some lovely BIG Boots UK, with 10% off at this link: https://www.bigboots.co.uk/?ref=thefinalword
Try the new Stomping Ground Final Word beer, or join Patreon to win a case: stompingground.beer
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au
Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw
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

Dec 29, 2025 • 1h 23min
Story Time 252 – The commando and the buried POW camp
It's Story Time, our weekly walk through cricket history. This week, we stumble by many coincidences onto the story of Australian Test cricket's WWII commando, and his connection to a Japanese POW camp, in a poignant week for Geoff to link these things together. If you're interested, look up the poetry of Chris Wallace-Crabbe.
Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week:
5.48 - Geoff Price
3.39 - Lee Geldard
7.06 - Chris Byrne
1.34 - Amelia Vine
Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword
Get your copy of Bedtime Tales for Cricket Tragics: linktr.ee/tfwbook
Stop snoring with 5% off a Zeus device: use code TFW2025 at zeussleeps.com
Get yourself some lovely BIG Boots UK, with 10% off at this link: https://www.bigboots.co.uk/?ref=thefinalword
Try the new Stomping Ground Final Word beer, or join Patreon to win a case: stompingground.beer
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au
Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw
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

Dec 28, 2025 • 31min
TFW Ashes Daily - the MCG aftermath
The MCG pitch controversy takes center stage, sparking passionate debate about its impact on the Ashes series. Adam and Geoff analyze how modern batters' aggressive instincts are shaped by multi-format backgrounds, while discussing the potential consequences for Test cricket scheduling. England's emotional win adds tension as they move into Sydney with the series still alive. Curator comments reveal unexpected pitch behavior, leading to a call for rethinking surfaces. Amid challenges, there's optimism for a Test cricket reset.

Dec 27, 2025 • 27min
TFW Ashes Daily - England break the drought - 4th Test, Melbourne Day 2
The Ashes Daily 2025, 4th Test, Melbourne Day 2: Once again, we are left to survey a field of smoking wreckage and ask, what the hell was that? Another two-day Test, another bowler-fest, and a closing flurry of some of the most insane attempts at shot-making you will ever see in the long form of the game. How do we make sense of that? But among the chaos, history was made.
Get your copy of Bedtime Tales for Cricket Tragics: linktr.ee/tfwbook
Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword
Stop snoring with 5% off a Zeus device: use code TFW2025 at zeussleeps.com
Get yourself some lovely BIG Boots UK, with 10% off at this link: https://www.bigboots.co.uk/?ref=thefinalword
Try the new Stomping Ground Final Word beer, or join Patreon to win a case: stompingground.beer
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au
Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw
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

Dec 26, 2025 • 26min
TFW Ashes Daily - One insane Boxing Day - 4th Test, Melbourne Day 1
The Ashes Daily 2025, 4th Test, Melbourne Day 1: What a ridiculous day. For years Melbourne was the most boring pitch in the country, but there will be plenty of questions after it saw an even more chaotic opening day than the Test in Perth. Blame the surface or the batting? That's up to you. But in this ten-pin-bowling Test match, both teams are well in it.
Get your copy of Bedtime Tales for Cricket Tragics: linktr.ee/tfwbook
Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword
Stop snoring with 5% off a Zeus device: use code TFW2025 at zeussleeps.com
Get yourself some lovely BIG Boots UK, with 10% off at this link: https://www.bigboots.co.uk/?ref=thefinalword
Try the new Stomping Ground Final Word beer, or join Patreon to win a case: stompingground.beer
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au
Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw
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

Dec 25, 2025 • 31min
TFW Ashes Daily - Jhye flies, Jofra grounded - 4th Test, Melbourne Day 0
The Ashes Daily 2025, 4th Test, Melbourne Day 0: It's been four years since Jhye Richardson stood at the top of his mark in a Test match but that looks set to change on Boxing Day, on a grassy MCG surface Steve Smith has deemed fit to use without a spinner. It's one of many pieces of selection news for both teams, including the premature end of Jofra Archer's series, that Adam and Bharat get into before tackling their Christmas lunches.
Get your copy of Bedtime Tales for Cricket Tragics: linktr.ee/tfwbook
Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword
Stop snoring with 5% off a Zeus device: use code TFW2025 at zeussleeps.com
Get yourself some lovely BIG Boots UK, with 10% off at this link: https://www.bigboots.co.uk/?ref=thefinalword
Try the new Stomping Ground Final Word beer, or join Patreon to win a case: stompingground.beer
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au
Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw
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

Dec 24, 2025 • 56min
The Final Word Christmas with Andy Zaltzman
Season 19, Episode 16: Merry Christmas to all. In carrying on our tradition of a festive interview with a much-loved contributor to the game, not many people create more smiles and fewer enemies than Andy Zaltzman. But beyond the cricket stats lies a vast career in comedy, from the stand-up circuit of the previous millennium through the Edinburgh fringe and pioneering days of podcasting to his huge success on Taskmaster. We talk creative practice, rivalries, and the role of chance.
Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword
Get your copy of Bedtime Tales for Cricket Tragics: linktr.ee/tfwbook
Stop snoring with 5% off a Zeus device: use code TFW2025 at zeussleeps.com
Get yourself some lovely BIG Boots UK, with 10% off at this link: https://www.bigboots.co.uk/?ref=thefinalword
Try the new Stomping Ground Final Word beer, or join Patreon to win a case: stompingground.beer
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au
Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw
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

Dec 23, 2025 • 1h 1min
Story Time 251 – Chariots of Fire from 0.2 seconds back
It's Story Time, our weekly walk through cricket history. This week, we're still in Adelaide as we discover by tangent the tale of one of the 20th century's biggest overachievers, New Zealand physician and athlete Arthur Poritt. You've probably never heard of him, but you'll be glad when you have. Also this week, an ancient rugby crossover and a little remembered record.
Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week:
3.40 - Vijai Prabhudass
5.21 - Dave Brown & Mick Hargreaves
6.12 - Shannon Blackmore
8.30 - Mike Edelstein
Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword
Get your copy of Bedtime Tales for Cricket Tragics: linktr.ee/tfwbook
Stop snoring with 5% off a Zeus device: use code TFW2025 at zeussleeps.com
Get yourself some lovely BIG Boots UK, with 10% off at this link: https://www.bigboots.co.uk/?ref=thefinalword
Try the new Stomping Ground Final Word beer, or join Patreon to win a case: stompingground.beer
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au
Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw
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

Dec 22, 2025 • 27min
TFW Ashes Daily - End of an era - 3rd Test, Adelaide Day 6
The Ashes Daily 2025, 3rd Test, Adelaide Day 6: Quiet settles on the Adelaide hills, as Geoff Lemon and Daniel Norcross take a beat to consider the end of the Bazball foray to Australia, and where we might go from here.
Get your copy of Bedtime Tales for Cricket Tragics: linktr.ee/tfwbook
Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword
Stop snoring with 5% off a Zeus device: use code TFW2025 at zeussleeps.com
Get yourself some lovely BIG Boots UK, with 10% off at this link: https://www.bigboots.co.uk/?ref=thefinalword
Try the new Stomping Ground Final Word beer, or join Patreon to win a case: stompingground.beer
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au
Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw
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


