

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

Sep 27, 2025 • 1h 8min
Story Time 241 – The Bradman song, hot or not?
It's Story Time, our walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, let's go to the work of Jack O'Hagan, who loved writing doggerel hit songs to turn a buck. Also this week, some more largely forgotten Test contributors, a stunning turnaround, and we surprise ourselves by pondering the best with the ball in ODIs.
Our music discussion this week was about Nick Craft's song "It's a Draw", by the Barrackville Singers. Find it at Nick's Bandcamp.
Your Nerd Pledge numbers for this week:
2.20 - Robert Close
8.54 - Kevin Jones
4.16 - HA
18.98 - Laura Luedi
Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of 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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Sep 25, 2025 • 54min
The future of Lord’s, with Rob Lynch
Season 18, Episode 34: The Home of Cricket will forever be a special and revered place, but how does it ensure its future? Rob Lynch, MCC’s director of cricket and operations, is an influential and experienced administrator who is determined to make sure HQ can evolve to meet the needs of the game and its membership in the short and long term. An excellent guest, talking with us as the Tavern Stand is being replaced and before the grass is re-laid.
Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of 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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Sep 23, 2025 • 1h 43min
It turns out Pakistan-India can go lower
Season 18 Episode 33: We said that last week’s Asia Cup nonsense was a new low, but we spoke too soon. And as the IPL and BBL flirting gets heavier, are we on track for Mumbai Melbourne and Rising Sydney Super Giants? Also this week, the best county match that Adam can remember, Glenn Maxwell scores his first ever 50-over ton for the Vics, runs flow between Australia and India in the women’s ODIs and the men’s A tour, and Pat Cummins picks up a cool 50 million bucks for climate action.
Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au
Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw
Get discounts on Noobru, the think drink: noobru.com/finalword
Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD
Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com
Title track by Urthboy
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Sep 19, 2025 • 1h 15min
Story Time 240 – Free Fred Tate
It's Story Time, our walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, it's time to right another cricketing wrong. You may not have heard of Fred Tate, or you may, but for over 120 years now he has been the subject of grave injustice in how his story is told. Let's make a change, and set Fred free. Also this week, we once more tackle the wily Rob O'Neill, and take on a pledge correlating to Andrew Wallis listening to 231 episodes of The Final Word in a matter of weeks. Heroism all round.
Your Nerd Pledge numbers for this week:
9.15 - Rob O'Neill
2.31 - Andrew Wallis
25.50 - Tom
Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au
Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw
Get discounts on Noobru, the think drink: noobru.com/finalword
Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD
Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com
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Sep 17, 2025 • 1h 10min
India-Pakistan cricket relations reach a new low
Season 18, Episode 32: Despite all the political posturing, India and Pakistan are still playing each other in tournaments, currently the Asia Cup. But never before have the cricketers been used as an arm of government as extensively and explicitly as now. Also this week, domestic cricket starts in Australia weirdly early with the Dean Jones Cup, and the Aus A tour is underway, meaning the Sam Konstas will make the Ashes, Kurtis Patterson will make the Ashes, Brad Hope will make the Ashes, everybody is in! While Brendon McCullum ponders a possible new Test captain for England.
Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au
Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw
Get discounts on Noobru, the think drink: noobru.com/finalword
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

Sep 13, 2025 • 1h 30min
Story Time 239 – The Percy Fender Stratocaster
It's Story Time, our walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, we start with a heavy-hitting pledge looking at one of cricket's heaviest stories, and whether it's worth at least recasting some naming conventions. Also this week, the day that Percy Fender went nuts, the rivals that still don't count, the Swiss Army Knife Man takes his couple of years in the sun, and a notion of early promise that stayed that way. Come for a stroll with us.
Your Nerd Pledge numbers for this week:
158.00 - Richard Jansz-Moore
3.50 - Stephen Colvin
6.35 - Mike Kilner
5.62 - Harry Woolley
Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au
Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw
Get discounts on Noobru, the think drink: noobru.com/finalword
Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD
Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com
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Sep 11, 2025 • 46min
TFW Book Club - Gilbert Jessop’s mysterious ton, with Simon Wilde
Shrouded in myth and mystery, Gilbert Jessop’s 76-ball century is an English cricket record that has stood since 1902. Renowned cricket journalist and historian Simon Wilde has attempted to capture the celebratory mood of the nation that was the backdrop to Jessop’s stunning knock. With the brutal Boer War having ended and a new Monarch in place, it was an exciting time of change and advancement in the United Kingdom. Unfortunately, the cricket team hadn’t got the memo and having already relinquished The Ashes, England turned to their ultimate impact player to restore some pride. What transpired has gone down in history, with Jessop leading a remarkable run chase which wouldn’t look out of place under Ben Stokes. How many balls did he really face? Some new discoveries have helped untangle one of the most disputed innings in cricket history.Purchase Chasing Jessop https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chasing-Jessop-Mystery-England-Crickets/dp/1526692538
Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au
Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw
Get discounts on Noobru, the think drink: noobru.com/finalword
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

Sep 9, 2025 • 58min
Australia launches a World Cup spin juggernaut
Season 18, Episode 31: As they ready for their warm-up series ahead of the Women's World Cup, Australia's squad is out and it is a formidable collection of cricketers. Can anybody go with them? Meanwhile, Dane van Niekerk reverses her retirement for South Africa aged 32, while N Srinivasan mounts a comeback to run Chennai Super Kings at 80, and he'll keep MS Dhoni playing until the same age. Ravi Bopara is doing so without issue in the T20 Blast. There's also Ross Taylor coming back to play for Samoa, and the Big Bash scouting R Ashwin, while Jofra Archer looks prime for the Ashes, Pat Cummins does not, and the UAE men's team push Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au
Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw
Get discounts on Noobru, the think drink: noobru.com/finalword
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

Sep 5, 2025 • 1h 32min
Story Time 238 – David Bowie meets Matthew Wade
It's Story Time, our walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, Adam and Geoff start off with a tale full of incident but plenty of heaviness, before moving on to one of the least expected rises to prominence in one of the most memorable matches of all. Also this week, the cultural place of the humble avocado, the brief burst of one of the fastest of his time, an incident-filled fourth Test linked to some eye-watering stats, and what did bring Ziggy and Wadey together at last?
Your Nerd Pledge numbers for this week:
3.05 - Diego Black
3.00 - Ajay
5.21 - David Peacock
1.60 - Ian Wolstenhome
Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au
Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw
Get discounts on Noobru, the think drink: noobru.com/finalword
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

Sep 2, 2025 • 1h 25min
Captain Cummins a chance to miss the Ashes
Pat Cummins' back injury raises concerns about his availability for the Ashes, possibly altering Australia's bowling strategy. Mitchell Starc announces his retirement, while cricket dynamics shift with emerging talents like Sonny Baker. Insights into the evolving landscape of women's cricket highlight the need for equality in prize money. The discussion also touches on the County Championship's future and the impact of recent player decisions on team selections and strategies. Humor and nostalgia blend as hosts reflect on the cricket season's end.


