
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)

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.
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Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefin...
Published: Jan 3, 2026Duration: 25:02

S19E20 - Michael Bevan's New Year's Miracle, 30 years on
Season 19, Episode 20: On this day, three decades ago. New Year's Day. Michael Bevan, Roger Harper... you know it. To recognise this cherished moment in Australian cricket's limited-overs history, here's an interview we did with Australia's ice man from a couple of years ago, when he was our guest at a Sydney live show. Honest, funny and thorough - what a gem.
Get your copy of Bedtime Tales for Cricket Tragics: linktr.ee/tfwbook
Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword
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Published: Jan 1, 2026Duration: 1:19:23

S19E19 - 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: ...
Published: Dec 31, 2025Duration: 39:00

S19E18 - 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.
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Published: Dec 30, 2025Duration: 43:55

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
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Published: Dec 29, 2025Duration: 1:22:54

TFW Ashes Daily - the MCG aftermath
The Ashes Daily 2025, 4th Test, Melbourne Day 3 wrap: The whole country is fixated on one thing: 22 yards of grass in the middle of the MCG, and how it came to influence an Ashes series. Head curator Matt Page had to turn out for a post-match press conference with the head of the MCC, Stuart Fox, such was the need for damage control. Was it really the pitch's fault? And either way, what does this mean for the future prospects of Test cricket? Adam and Geoff get together after a night off to chew through it all.
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Published: Dec 28, 2025Duration: 30:40

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 Groun...
Published: Dec 27, 2025Duration: 27:10

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...
Published: Dec 26, 2025Duration: 26:10

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 enter without a spinner. It's one of many pieces of selection news for both teams that Adam and Bharat get into before tackling their Christmas lunches, including the premature end of Jofra Archer's series.
Get your copy of Bedtime Tales for Cricket Tragics: linktr.ee/tfwbook
Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at ...
Published: Dec 25, 2025Duration: 31:23

S19E16 - 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
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Published: Dec 24, 2025Duration: 56:11

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
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Published: Dec 23, 2025Duration: 1:00:45

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: ...
Published: Dec 22, 2025Duration: 27:26

TFW Ashes Daily - Ashes are done, with a twist - 3rd Test, Adelaide Day 5
The Ashes Daily 2025, 3rd Test, Adelaide Day 5: The expected result came in, but not in the expected way. For some periods of time on the final day, the game wasn't exactly on, but it wasn't far away from being on, first via Jamie Smith and Will Jacks, then Will Jacks and Brydon Carse. Australia, though, have Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, and the new streak of lightning at slip, Marnus Labuschagne.
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: Dec 21, 2025Duration: 16:41

TFW Ashes Daily - She's going the distance! - 3rd Test, Adelaide Day 4
The Ashes Daily 2025, 3rd Test, Adelaide Day 4: We're going to make to a fifth day! Not, admittedly, one with a whole lot riding on it, but if there's an unexpected day of storms or an all-time rearguard from a couple of unlikely cats, who knows. Kemar Roach showed us anything is possible. Meanwhile, another absurdly attractive day of bowling from Pat Cummins had the swoon factor high, before Nathan Lyon produced some spin smut to complement it.
Get your copy of Bedtime Tales for Cricket Tragics: linktr.ee/tfwbook
Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at ...
Published: Dec 20, 2025Duration: 25:51

TFW Ashes Daily - Adelaide was jumping, jumping - 3rd Test, Adelaide Day 3
The Ashes Daily 2025, 3rd Test, Adelaide Day 3: Sometimes, Test cricket offers the chance for rare resistance. We saw that through the morning session on day three. Sometimes, it offers the chance for rare skill to overcome resistance. We saw that too. And sometimes, it offers feelgood stories for one side that feel much less good for the other. So it became, on the peak day ever of South Australian pride.
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: Dec 19, 2025Duration: 31:42

TFW Ashes Daily - Perfect bowling in the heat - 3rd Test, Adelaide Day 2
The Ashes Daily 2025, 3rd Test, Adelaide Day 2: The hottest day of the Test by far, and somehow the bowling side were not the ones who wilted. An astounding performance really, of accuracy and hostility despite the conditions rather than because of them, is well worth reflecting on regardless of what team you follow, as Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon came back into the Australian team and led the way.
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
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Tr...
Published: Dec 18, 2025Duration: 25:50

TFW Ashes Daily - Carey's hometown class - 3rd Test, Adelaide Day 1
The Ashes Daily 2025, 3rd Test, Adelaide Day 1: It's blazing hot in Adelaide, although the oracles say it will only get hotter, and the Test match is off to a warm start. Jofra Archer heated up his opening spell, Josh Tongue had his moments, and Australia gave out some Christmas gifts. Among the chaos, a remarkable comeback for Usman Khawaja and a huge hometown day for Alex Carey.
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 t...
Published: Dec 17, 2025Duration: 32:42

TFW Ashes Daily - England's last chance - 3rd Test, Adelaide Day 0
The Ashes Daily 2025, 3rd Test, Adelaide Day 0: We are down to England's last chance to stay in the series, and they've elected to take on Adelaide Oval and a 40-degree forecast without a specialist spinner. Are they secret geniuses? Meanwhile, for Australia, Usman Khawaja's career is now finished without injury intervention, as the XI continues without him, while Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon come back.
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 ne...
Published: Dec 16, 2025Duration: 31:39

S19E15 - The one time that Beth Mooney couldn't do it
Season 19, Episode 15: This week, from Brunswick Street Oval in Melbourne during our TFW XI match, more Ashes chatter and chunter with Usman Khawaja stepping up to the press conference mic, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon to come back for Australia, England to deal with their batting problems in time-honoured fashion by picking the same top seven and dropping bowlers, NZ spank West Indies second time around, and Jimmy Anderson will be a county captain. Most newsworthy of all, though, for the first time in history Beth Mooney didn't make a matchwinning score in a final.
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Published: Dec 14, 2025Duration: 43:58

Story Time 250 – Billy Corgan introduces decimal currency
It's Story Time, our weekly walk through cricket history. This week, Adam and Geoff get together at Stomping Ground Beer Hall to watch our TFW ale come off the canning line. After that, it's time for a tale about how a crooked priest blew his cash on one of the earliest notable first-class matches, and how the first of the first in another category arrived. What does that have to with 1979? You'll find out.
Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week:
20.00 - Seb Goldsmith
1.34 - Amelia Vine
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Published: Dec 13, 2025Duration: 43:13