The Final Word Cricket Podcast

Season 14, Episode 19: It's only been 18 months since the last time the urn was played for but it feels like an eternity. For England, everything really has changed since Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes took over a broken side. Now, for the series this has all been leading up to - The Ashes. And they take this with Moeen Ali back in the team after having not touched a red ball for the better part of two years. Ali Martin, another Birmingham native, knows the England all-rounder well and joins us to piece that together. Also on the show: WTC washup, Bluey does cricket, the Lottie Cup stays put, and Heather Knight's side name their Test squad for Trent Bridge. Recorded on location at Westfield London.Your Nerd Pledge number for this week:14.50 - Sam DaviesSupport the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalwordFind previous episodes at finalwordcricket.comTitle track by UrthboyVisit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! 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. This week, a lot of different threads lead us back to a certain European autumn over a century ago. There is also a dusty week in Sydney, the 1008 names of Lord Shiva, one of the most forgotten domestic competitions ever, a pioneering slip catcher, and the biggest day in Birmingham. All recorded on a hot summer day in Adam's garden with the bumblebees bumbling about. Wholesome as, tuck in.Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week:2.52 - Jack S2.78 - Shounak Sarkar7.50 - Jonathan AspinRevisits7.00 - Jon Lansdell6.80 - Owen3.39 - Pat Rodgers5.28 - Paul Murphy4.39 - Vanessa Collins3.57 - Alan Simpson4.89 - Edward GreggsSupport the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalwordFind previous episodes at finalwordcricket.comTitle track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

World Test Championship, India v Australia Day 5: It started with expectation but it ended expeditiously. Scott Boland and those short bursts of time, hey? Find out how everything came together on the last day of the WTC final.Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalwordFind previous episodes at finalwordcricket.comTitle track by UrthboyVisit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

World Test Championship, India v Australia Day 4: You'll hear a lot about controversy today, so let's rip into it first. The catch that was, from Cameron Green off Shubman Gill. Also, more important work from Carey, and some fire and ice from Kohli and Rahane. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalwordFind previous episodes at finalwordcricket.comTitle track by UrthboyVisit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

World Test Championship, India v Australia Day 3: A classic day at The Oval as India came back into the contest, throwing the bat and then delivering with the ball, while Australia went blow for blow at times but lacked the polish at key moments. Compelling, even though India remain behind in the contest. Ajinkya Rahane, Shardul Thakur, Pat Cummins and Scott Boland were all prominent. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalwordFind previous episodes at finalwordcricket.comTitle track by UrthboyVisit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

World Test Championship, India v Australia Day 2: It started in a hurry with a Steve Smith hundred, but the game changed several times from there. India's bowlers did some hard work, Alex Carey combined the classy and the comical, then Australia's bowlers found something extra. Don't miss a packed day from The Oval.Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalwordFind previous episodes at finalwordcricket.comTitle track by UrthboyVisit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

World Test Championship, India v Australia Day 1: It was long awaited, then it was here. A high-octane morning session from Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj, then a spectacular riposte from Travis Head, and the anticipation was deserved. Find out all about day one from London. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalwordFind previous episodes at finalwordcricket.comTitle track by UrthboyVisit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTC Final, India v Australia - preview: Two years after India slipped up in the decider against New Zealand they've made it again, this time up against Pat Cummins' Australians in a true heavyweight bout. The first Test Match to ever be played at The Oval in June, there's a lot to consider at the selection table, especially for Rohit Sharma's side - are they really going into this with Ashwin? Adam Collins has Bharat Sundaresan with him on the ground in South London.Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalwordFind previous episodes at finalwordcricket.comTitle track by UrthboyVisit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 14, Episode 18: Three years after his first appearance, Cricket Ireland chief executive Warren Deutrom returns to the show for a conversation at Lord's, looking at the structural challenges as they now stand, and the possible impact of the new ICC revenue deal. Also this week, after your hosts played their own match at Alleyn Cricket Club, England's key spinner is out of the Ashes, Josh Hazlewood is out of the WTC final, and we have some very good news pertaining to a Test match that happened in 1977.Your Nerd Pledge number for this week:3.15 - Ben ConnorSupport the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalwordFind 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. This week, a show that could also have been titled Wally Grout is Grouse. Where did that word go? Before we ponder that big question, a true sensation of a tale that we had never heard before, about a player trying to take his place in the middle against all medical sense. Plus a couple of the most extraordinary revisit solutions for stubborn unsolved numbers, including more Ramaswamy than even Ramaswamy would have expected. Of all episodes, this week you must stay through to the end. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week:2.50 - Chris Arkle11.40 - Chris Dobbins8.81 - Haylee Fuller8.90 - Ramaswamy2.15 - Joel Emonson3.67 - Stephen BaxterRevisits2.93 - Graeme Innes5.67 - Bala SivaramanSupport the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalwordFind previous episodes at finalwordcricket.comTitle track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices