
The Final Word Cricket Podcast
byAdam Collins, Geoff Lemon
LeisureHobbiesNewsSportsCricket
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(40 episodes)

S19E26 - FFS, now Pakistan want to boycott the World Cup
Season 19 Episode 26: We have more drama ahead of the T20 World Cup, with Pakistan's government saying the national team will boycott India during the T20 World Cup, but otherwise will still play. Instead they will likely be kicked out, as the ICC tries to put out this newest fire. Also this week, Harry Brook apologises for his previous apology, Australia's women get a new all-format captain, USA's breakout star Aaron Jones is accused of match-fixing, and there's a lot of white-ball action happening ahead of the ill-fated tournament.
Australia brings memories that last a...
Published: Feb 2, 2026Duration: 1:28:57

Story Time 256 – From 90s hero to less than zero
It's Story Time, our weekly walk through cricket history. This week, it's not a fun start but an important one as we look at years of accusations against Michael Slater, something that a lot of reporting skated over, but that Jordan Baker of the Sydney Morning Herald did not. Also this week, a couple of huge days in the Ranji, we have a new team to follow, and the life of a true Sri Lankan legend and Ceylonese pioneer.
Your Nerd Pledge numbers for this week:
66.6 - Joel Burton
5.94...
Published: Feb 1, 2026Duration: 1:29:55

S19E25 - From refugee to England hopeful - The Final Word with Tawanda Muyeye
Season 19 Episode 25: Last week, we had Sonny Baker with us, casting an eye to the future of England fast bowling. Today, a player similarly highly-rated, Tawanda Muyeye. In Muyeye’s case, having represented Zimbabwe at youth level, his family had to flee as a result of political persecution. A fresh start in England as an asylum seeker followed, which saw him score mountains of schoolboy runs before quickly ending up on Kent’s books. Now 24, the stylish right-hander remains in the process of moving from refugee to citizen, but all things being equal, this time next year he should be e...
Published: Jan 29, 2026Duration: 44:30

Lies about the Harry Brook story emphasise England's problems
Season 19 Episode 24: It's official, Bangladesh have refused to play in the T20 World Cup, meaning Scotland will come in. Justice for Jersey! Pakistan are threatening not to come, even though they will. Italy just beat Ireland. Australia are going to Pakistan. It's all happening in the lead-up weeks, including England's tour of Sri Lanka - where Harry Brook captaining that side just emphasises how significant the problems are that England's team management have made for themselves.
Australia brings memories that last a lifetime.
Visit Australia.com
Get your copy of Bedti...
Published: Jan 27, 2026Duration: 1:09:40

Story Time 255 – The Summer of George
It's Story Time, our weekly walk through cricket history. This week, a clue about a show about nothing - but can that be right? Two long-time contributors to the show have their Nerd Pledge moment, plus one of the great run gluts, and a big day on Ceefax.
Your Nerd Pledge numbers for this week:
8.22 - Sheahan Arnott
2.60 - Max Bonnell
3.63 - Tobi Wilson
9.57 - Robin Whelan
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 10% off a Zeus device: use code TFW2026 at
zeussleeps.com
...
Published: Jan 26, 2026Duration: 1:03:39

Story Time 255 – The Summer of George
It's Story Time, our weekly walk through cricket history. This week, a clue about a show about nothing - but can that be right? Two long-time contributors to the show have their Nerd Pledge moment, plus one of the great run gluts, and a big day on Ceefax.
Your Nerd Pledge numbers for this week:
8.22 - Sheahan Arnott
2.60 - Max Bonnell
3.63 - Tobi Wilson
9.57 - Robin Whelan
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...
Published: Jan 24, 2026Duration: 1:04:39

S19E23 - World cricket splinters further with World Cup boycott likely
Season 19 Episode 23: Cricket's small group of nations continues to fracture, with news firming even as we recorded this episode that Bangladesh will pull out of the T20 World Cup due to political conflict with India. Also this week, some unrelated ICC nonsense, and a tour around the overloaded global T20 circuit.
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 10% off a Zeus device: use code TFW2026 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...
Published: Jan 22, 2026Duration: 1:04:48

S19E22 - Ban Australians from county cricket? Ben Stokes, you got punk'd
Season 19 Episode 22: The seasons are changing, and after a white-clothing summer, Steve Smith is dressed in hot pink and smacking balls into orbit. He's no longer in Australia's T20 plans, but can he force a change of direction? Also this week, Ben Stokes falls for the old "ban Australians from county cricket" trick, Virat Kohli goes back to World No.1, while Emma John and former England captain Heather Knight join the show, one to chat about the Harrow cricket museum and the other about the new Lord's team.
Get your copy of Bedtime Tales...
Published: Jan 20, 2026Duration: 1:25:25

The Final Word with Sonny Baker
Season 19 Episode 21: If you listened to the pod through 2025, Sonny Baker is a name that won’t be new to you - Adam spoke about him practically every week after seeing him bowl Surrey out in April He’s a young man, at just 22 years of age, who already has very high expectations of him when it comes to the pace he can generate and the skill he does it with. And if you thought a chastening international debut in September might’ve damaged his ambition, think again. A most engaging guest, brimming with energy and curiosity, he’s going to...
Published: Jan 18, 2026Duration: 1:00:01

Story Time 254 – The Irishman who became a Chinese general
It's Story Time, our weekly walk through cricket history. This week, another vast and sprawling tale of a 20th century life that hardly seems true, from the Himalayan foothills to the Venezuelan jungle, of an intellectual and polyglot. Also, a leader who was up against it, some family rivalry, and a niche umpiring question that leads to a fight against infinity.
Your Nerd Pledge numbers for this week:
3.42 - Sean Smith
8.40 - Sean Tolich
3.60 - Michael Gormley
6.10 - Lara Killick
Support the show with...
Published: Jan 16, 2026Duration: 1:26:54

Australia’s (likely) ADHD pre-war leggie – TFW Book Club with Pat Rodgers
Pat Rodgers – The Erratic Syd Emery
It’s always a joy when Pat Rodgers, great friend of the pod, dives into a story from cricket’s pre-WW1 golden era. The subject of his latest terrific book is googly wizard Syd Emery, who emerged from the back blocks of Sydney to state and national honours in the unusual 1912 triangular Test tour of England. A star that faded as soon as it rose, Mad Mick, as he was nicknamed, was a complex man of his time who had a life that varied as markedly as his line a...
Published: Jan 14, 2026Duration: 1:04:38

S19E20 - As the Australians relax, England brace for review season
Season 19, Episode 20: It's the weekly show. Normal programming is back. Except for programming at the T20 World Cup, where India's government is now feuding with Bangladesh's government, and threatening to excommunicate another Test nation from the inner sanctum. Also this week, preparing the ground ahead of England's Ashes review, the worst Big Bash segment you've ever heard, and Emma John joins the show to tell us about her travels in South Australia.
Get your copy of Bedtime Tales for Cricket Tragics: linktr.ee/tfwbook
Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword
Australia brings memories that last a lifetime.
Visit Australia.com
Stop snoring with 5% off a Zeus device: use co...
Published: Jan 12, 2026Duration: 1:05:58

Story Time 253 – An honorary degree from the University of WA
It's Story Time, our weekly walk through cricket history. This week, a quick one from the SCG before it's time to pack up and ship out, but we have time for the tale of just how many degrees Saeed Ajmal had to study, and have studied, at the University of Western Australia. Also this week, Pip's first ODI back in 2008, and the subsequent story of a player we knew nothing about.
Your Nerd Pledge numbers for this week:
23.88 - Dan O'Sullivan
17.17 - Pip Clarke
Support the show with...
Published: Jan 10, 2026Duration: 48:45

TFW Ashes Daily - The Ashes are over! Time to look back
The Ashes Daily 2025, 5th Test, Sydney Day 6: Toll the bells, it is over. And for this series at least, this is the final Final Word Ashes Daily. What did we just witness? Were Australia any good, or were they lucky? Did England just fail to do the course reading? Do any heads roll, or do they roll on? Adam and Geoff take a deep breath the day after to look back over it all, and ahead to what's next.
Get your copy of Bedtime Tales for Cricket Tragics: linktr.ee/tfwbook
Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/the...
Published: Jan 9, 2026Duration: 47:00

TFW Ashes Daily - Behold, a nervous chase - 5th Test, Sydney Day 5
The Ashes Daily 2025, 5th Test, Sydney Day 5: Get a score on the board and it can make for a nervous chase. So it proved for Australia on the final day of the series, as a wicket fell, then another, and another... England found the competitive switch, and kept it pressed until the end. How did it all pan out? We'll tell you.
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 cas...
Published: Jan 8, 2026Duration: 31:21

TFW Ashes Daily - Bethell makes history - 5th Test, Sydney Day 4
The Ashes Daily 2025, 5th Test, Sydney Day 4: They said it couldn't happen. Ok, maybe we said it couldn't happen. Either way, that was said. Picking a guy who had never made first-class hundreds was not going to bring Test hundreds. Surely? Except it did, the only English century in the series not made by a guy named Root. On a perfect Sydney day, does that make it game on? Not really, but there's room for a miracle.
Get your copy of Bedtime Tales for Cricket Tragics: linktr.ee/tfwbook
Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefin...
Published: Jan 7, 2026Duration: 27:15

TFW Ashes Daily - The Smith machine turns on - 5th Test, Sydney Day 3
The Ashes Daily 2025, 5th Test, Sydney Day 3: In truth, it has been a long time coming in Ashes cricket, but in the Year of Our Lord 2026, Steve Smith took us back in time to when him doing dances and pinching singles and smacking the odd shot through cover was the only constant in a world of madness. The sun shone, Stokes toiled, Jacks flinched, and Potts had a day where nothing went right.
Get your copy of Bedtime Tales for Cricket Tragics: linktr.ee/tfwbook
Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword...
Published: Jan 6, 2026Duration: 24:59

TFW Ashes Daily - Root & Head on the same day - 5th Test, Sydney Day 2
The Ashes Daily 2025, 5th Test, Sydney Day 2: It was a day for batting, in both camps, as the SCG provided some challenges but also some opportunities. First it was Joe Root's turn, scripting another flourish near the end of his Australian tale, then it was Travis Head with a far more boisterous performance in keeping with his series. Who's on top? It's hard to make out among the tangle of limbs.
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
...
Published: Jan 5, 2026Duration: 27:42

TFW Ashes Daily - The engine room arrives - 5th Test, Sydney Day 1
The Ashes Daily 2025, 5th Test, Sydney Day 1: For a moment it looked like we would have another crazy fast Test innings, but then things changed. Joe Root and Harry Brook have promised and then broken that promise to bat together for a long time this series, and finally delivered before the inevitable Sydney rain.
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: stomping...
Published: Jan 4, 2026Duration: 29:27

TFW Ashes Daily - Khawaja's done, Smith isn't - 5th Test, Sydney Day 0
The Ashes Daily 2025, 5th Test, Sydney Day 0: It's been a busy couple of days in the SCG press conference room with Usman Khawaja pulling the pin and Steve Smith confirming that his own show will go on. He wouldn't, however, reveal the starting XI for the SCG Test as the (currently) green pitch still leaves questions for them to answer. Bharat Sundaresan joins Adam, for a conversation centred around the retiring opener's broader comments.
Get your copy of Bedtime Tales for Cricket Tragics: linktr.ee/tfwbook
Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefin...
Published: Jan 3, 2026Duration: 25:02