The Final Word Cricket Podcast

The 1961 Ashes had it all, especially at Old Trafford. The ground where Jim Laker ran amok the previous time the Australians visited would be the scene of a staggering come-from-behind triumph under the bold leadership of Richie Benaud, spinning to win from out of the rough. Adam has Steve Cannane with him to interview Harry Ricketts, the co-author of a terrific new book focused on a match that helped earn the Australian captain the reputation as the best leader in the game. But it’s a portrait just as much about the England skipper, Peter May, and how a champion player would become a symptom of an antiquated class system by the end of his time in charge. A book that’s going to win a stack of awards, it’s out this week. Enjoy!Buy a copy of Richie Benaud's Blue Suede Shoes here: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/richie-benauds-blue-suede-shoes-9781526670274/ Read Steve Cannane's Review for the FT here: https://www.ft.com/content/d1e4e4e4-59a9-4f41-abdb-1059932cb7feSupport the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalwordEnter our Westfield UK competitionGift vouchers or your own T20 World Cup final party at Sixeswww.westfield.com/united-kingdom/tfwDonate to support our Edinburgh Marathon runners for the Lord's TavernersAll links at linktr.ee/thefinalword10% off kit from seriouscricket.co.uk with FINALWORD24 at checkoutYour Nord VPN discount - nordvpn.com/tfwFind previous episodes at finalwordcricket.comTitle track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's Story Time, our walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, how many things do you not know about Jim Laker? For us, plenty, including how close he came to turning out in the baggy green. Lara Killick asks about some rubbery figures, we head back to the early IPL, some forgotten T20 Blast, and the very beginning of Test cricket once again.Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week:2.49 - Cam Allen18.77 - Chris Byrne29.00 - Lara Killick21.24 - Alan Simpson7.75 - Eranda Jayawickreme1.71 - Niall TaylorSupport the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalwordEnter our Westfield UK competitionGift vouchers or your own T20 World Cup final party at Sixeswww.westfield.com/united-kingdom/tfwDonate to support our Edinburgh Marathon runners for the Lord's TavernersAll links at linktr.ee/thefinalword10% off kit from seriouscricket.co.uk with FINALWORD24 at checkoutYour Nord VPN discount - nordvpn.com/tfwFind previous episodes at finalwordcricket.comTitle track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 16, Episode 15: Yes, we finally have our ad-free feed up and running, extra exciting in the same week as Adam claims to have watched The Greatest Round of County Cricket Ever. Wait for his documentary series on it in 10 years' time. Jofra Archer is tentatively back bowling snorters, there is civil unrest in Australian state cricket, and we finally figure out how the IPL works as Mitch Starc hits top gear. Also, our Westfield competition starts this week, and our listeners get innovative in fundraising for the Edinburgh marathon.Your Nerd Pledge number for this week:3.18 - Thilo FobSupport the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalwordGet down to Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City!More extra, less ordinary. westfield.com/united-kingdom/londonGet your 10% discount on top-notch kit from Serious CricketFINALWORD24 at checkout --> seriouscricket.co.ukOr the Nord VPN discount - nordvpn.com/tfwDonate to support our Edinburgh Marathon runners for the Lord's TavernersAll links at linktr.ee/thefinalwordFind previous episodes at finalwordcricket.comTitle track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 16, Episode 14: After Australian cricket endured its worst moment in modern memory in 2018, the Sandpaper debacle, cameras were invited into the inner sanctum of the men’s dressing room for a fly-on-the-wall documentary. Five years on, they have returned for a third installment during last year’s World Test Championship and the Ashes that followed. The result is another engaging peek behind the curtain as Pat Cummins and his side set about their task of trying to win the lot as the players from both teams produced their most exciting contest in a generation. Adrian Brown has directed The Test from the outset and joins us, as he did when the previous editions were released, to talk us through his latest project.Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalwordGet down to Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City!More extra, less ordinary. westfield.com/united-kingdom/londonGet your 10% discount on top-notch kit from Serious Cricket with FINALWORD24 at checkout--> seriouscricket.co.ukOr the Nord VPN discount - nordvpn.com/tfwDonate to support our Edinburgh Marathon runners for the Lord's TavernersAll links at linktr.ee/thefinalwordFind previous episodes at finalwordcricket.comTitle track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's Story Time, our walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. Did Paul Nixon pen his own Wikipedia entry? Daniel Norcross reports, you decide. Our co-host has been busy too, getting Paul Collingwood to help tell the story of the less enjoyable half of that visit to Australia. Adam goes back to a memorable week in Galle, takes in Surrey challenging the touring Australians in 1899, and reflects on the life and times of Cyril Washbrook.Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week:5.45 - Shawn Rajanayagam2.03 - Francis Keepfer3.51 - Michael Edelstein2.06 - Randolph Brazier2.99 - BIG GEOFFSupport the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalwordGet down to Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City.More extra, less ordinary.westfield.com/united-kingdom/londonGet 10% off kit from Serious Cricket with FINALWORD24 at checkout:seriouscricket.co.ukAnd get that sweet Nord VPN discount - nordvpn.com/tfwDonate to support our Edinburgh Marathon runners for the Lord's TavernersAll links at linktr.ee/thefinalwordFind previous episodes at finalwordcricket.comTitle track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's Story Time, our walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, a long backtrack to a much earlier episode where we tried to unravel the mystery of carrying one's bat for nought not out. Enter a multitude of Hearnes. Also, the man they called Stork, a forgotten career of coincidences, Winnie Mae's birthday, Pip Clark The Musical, and the fastest snorters that Braddles ever faced.Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week:4.06 - Vijay14.02 - Ross Davey4.92 - Shannon Blackmore3.25 - Tim Gilkison5.63 - Pip ClarkRevisit: Osman BahemiaSupport the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalwordGet down to Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City.More extra, less ordinary.westfield.com/united-kingdom/londonGet 10% off kit from Serious Cricket with FINALWORD24 at checkout:seriouscricket.co.ukAnd get that sweet Nord VPN discount - nordvpn.com/tfwDonate to support our Edinburgh Marathon runners for the Lord's TavernersAll links at linktr.ee/thefinalwordFind previous episodes at finalwordcricket.comTitle track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 16, Episode 13: With the Jimmy farewell in the air, was it the right move or wrong? Should it have happened three years earlier, or one year later? Let's get into it. Also this week, Monty does a Mal Meninga, the ECB continue towards selling up, the ICC continue selling out to the worst people in sport, the Dutch keep being sold short, Ireland's men and Pakistan's women put in performances against the odds, and we chat the domestic circuit of Champo and IPL.Your Nerd Pledge number for this week:2.05 - Simon Trafford (revisit)Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalwordGet down to Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City!More extra, less ordinary. westfield.com/united-kingdom/londonGet your 10% discount on top-notch kit from Serious Cricket with FINALWORD24 at checkout--> seriouscricket.co.ukOr the Nord VPN discount - nordvpn.com/tfwDonate to support our Edinburgh Marathon runners for the Lord's TavernersAll links at linktr.ee/thefinalwordFind previous episodes at finalwordcricket.comTitle track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's Story Time, our walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, with Daniel Norcross joining Geoff Lemon, we start with a walk through the Indian hill town of Ooty, then end up deep in the origins of European fascism. Yes, it's all related to the cricket. Also, the German influence on Lord's in 1994, the worst ever hat-trick, and an ode to a love that never quite panned out.Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week:3.79 - Jai Sharma2.90 - Paul Frame2.11 - Jack Rule6.05 - Jagannathan Tiruvallur Eachambadi3.61 - FranSupport the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalwordGet down to Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City.More extra, less ordinary.westfield.com/united-kingdom/londonGet 10% off kit from Serious Cricket with FINALWORD24 at checkout:seriouscricket.co.ukAnd get that sweet Nord VPN discount - nordvpn.com/tfwDonate to support our Edinburgh Marathon runners for the Lord's TavernersAll links at linktr.ee/thefinalwordFind previous episodes at finalwordcricket.comTitle track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We weren't expecting to record an ep today but the news of Jimmy Anderson's retirement announcement required it. At The Oval, Adam has an emotional Daniel Norcross with him to reflect on a truly magnificent international career.Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalwordGet down to Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City! More extra, less ordinary. westfield.com/united-kingdom/londonGet your 10% discount on top-notch kit from Serious Cricket.Use FINALWORD24 at checkout --> seriouscricket.co.ukGet that sweet Nord VPN discount - nordvpn.com/tfwDonate to support our Edinburgh Marathon runners for the Lord's TavernersAll links at linktr.ee/thefinalwordFind previous episodes at finalwordcricket.comTitle track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's Story Time, our walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, with Adam and Geoff are back together, do you know how cricket relates to Ronald Ryan and to Malaysian capital punishment in the 1980s? Neither do we, but we got there somehow anyway. Also, a lot of time in the Imaginary City - Adelaide. Short runs, rain delays, referenda, and the best defensive technique that any bunny has had. It's another packed show.Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week:4.38 - Bill10.10 - Ciaran O'Kane24.73 - Luke Reynolds7.45 - Tobi Wilson7.44 - Richard Fleming5.93 - Michael EdelsteinSupport the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalwordGet down to Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City.More extra, less ordinary.westfield.com/united-kingdom/londonGet 10% off kit from Serious Cricket with FINALWORD24 at checkout:seriouscricket.co.ukAnd get that sweet Nord VPN discount - nordvpn.com/tfwDonate to support our Edinburgh Marathon runners for the Lord's TavernersAll links at linktr.ee/thefinalwordFind previous episodes at finalwordcricket.comTitle track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices