The Final Word Cricket Podcast

Season 14, Episode 42: Kumar Sangakkara is not only one of the greatest cricketers to ever play the game but also one of the most thoughtful. In turn, his life in the sport is one that continues to represent a great deal more than batting and wicketkeeping, although our conversation - which this is but the first part, we have plenty more to discuss - does eventually get to the 22 yards in the middle. A joy to spend an hour with someone who has given so much to the game, and we look forward to picking up the interview for part two in the not too distant future. Enjoy.Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalwordSign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignupFind previous episodes at finalwordcricket.comTitle track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's Story Time, our weekly walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. For the non-milestone episode of 150, we got everybody together, recording this in front of a live online audience. They heard another update about new fave Maurice Kellerman and the shipwreck of the Viking, an incredible Dutch story from World War I thanks to a guest contributor, the blazing start of a teenage prodigy, and some recounting of the meanest scorelines ever visited by one team upon another.Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week:1.46 - History of the Netherlands48.50 - Simon Wallace6.00 - David Adamson10.70 - Rafael Szumer2.22 - DeenerSupport the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalwordSign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignupFind previous episodes at finalwordcricket.comTitle track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

England v New Zealand, 4th ODI at Lord's: Dawid Malan might’ve thought the selectors were a chance of trading him in for a flashier model a couple of weeks ago. Well, that won’t be happening any time soon, a glittering Lord’s ton from the left-hander completing the 3-1 series win for the hosts over New Zealand at Lord’s. Adam has Phil Walker (Wisden Cricket Monthly) with him, casting forward to the tournament that matters most. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalwordSign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignupFind previous episodes at finalwordcricket.comTitle track by UrthboyLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 1 - How it all Began: In March 2020, the world stopped as human tragedy unfolded. To that backdrop, a lockdown project started small and got way out of hand, as Adam Collins and Daniel Norcross set about telling the story of 100 years of cricket broadcasting. Our documentary series still prompts questions to this day. So three and a half years later, we're re-releasing the episodes along with narration about selecting guests, the obsessive processes to meet deadlines, and reflections on what we learned on the way. This first cut starts where cricket on the radio did, in Australia in the 1920s, finishing where John Arlott signed off at the end of the Bradman era in 1948. Whether you're returning to Calling the Shots or finding it for the first time, we hope it hits the spot.Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalwordSign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignupFind previous episodes at finalwordcricket.comTitle track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 14, Episode 41: A child prodigy, a five-time Ashes winner, and the man with the finest cover drive you could ever wish to see - Ian Bell's fine career brought a lot of joy to onlookers as he himself got to observe a period of immense change in English cricket, from the time of Atherton and Hussain to that of Stokes and Buttler. We catch up with him in London where he's working as an assistant coach with the New Zealand men's team - one of many coaching gigs around the world as he enjoys part two of a rich cricketing life.Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalwordSign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignupFind previous episodes at finalwordcricket.comTitle track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

England v New Zealand, 3rd ODI at The Oval: Ben Stokes, good grief. He was retired from this format until a week ago, and today at The Oval he’s smacked England’s highest-ever score in the format. It paved the way to another thumping win over New Zealand. Phil Walker, the big boss at Wisden Cricket Monthly, joins Adam to reflect on the carnage.Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalwordSign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignupFind previous episodes at finalwordcricket.comTitle track by UrthboyLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 14, Episode 40: It's easy to forget, but as soon as a few good one-dayers start up again, we get right back into it. Australia have been notching wins in South Africa thanks to the return of the Suber-Sub: did you know that Labuschagne also spells La Sub Change? England's heatwave* is over, Liam Livingstone figures out how to bat for a while, the Test team will be the second-tier ODI team to play Ireland, the Asia Cup is not really happening but a few overs have been bowled, and we said it couldn't happen but Sri Lanka's women beat England in a series. Rajasthan want to buy Yorkshire, there's a full county wrap, and we're joined for a chat by James Nordin and Will Flynn from England's physical disability team.Your Nerd Pledge number this week:3.63 - Lachy MacCorquodaleSupport the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalwordSign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignupFind previous episodes at finalwordcricket.comTitle track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

England v New Zealand, 2nd ODI at Southampton: It was all going so well for New Zealand, romping through England’s top order in a rain-reduced affair at Southampton. Enter Liam Livingstone, who turned the game on its head, enhancing his credentials yet further. From there, Buttler’s bowlers clicked and the Black Caps folded. Daniel Norcross joins Adam on their commentary box balcony.Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalwordSign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignupFind previous episodes at finalwordcricket.comTitle track by UrthboyLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's Story Time, our weekly walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. And sometimes, we have to go all in on a certain subject. Sometimes, it takes half an hour to get to the first number. Sometimes, that number means a story that leads to a story that leads to a story. So it is with a long trajectory through the middle years of Neighbours, the frank assessments of Dr Carl Kennedy, and the artistic genius behind Not Happy Jan. It will all make sense when you hear it. Maybe.Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week:5.05 - Brian Stratford11.00 - David WFG5.21 - Darryl Richardson12.90 - Richard Jansz-MooreSupport the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalwordSign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignupFind previous episodes at finalwordcricket.comTitle track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

England v New Zealand, 1st ODI at Cardiff: What a difference a week makes. Last Friday, New Zealand’s batting was in a world of pain, bowled out in 14 overs. Tonight, they chased 292 in a canter at Cardiff, unbeaten tons for Conway and Mitchell to make it so, and have now knocked off the dual world champions three times on the trot. Jeremy Coney joins Adam to consider the result in the context of the World Cup, which begins in just four weeks from now.Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalwordSign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignupFind previous episodes at finalwordcricket.comTitle track by UrthboyLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices