The Greatest Season That Was - The Final Frontier episode 4 – Adam Gilchrist: During the last Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia, the pulsating summer of 2020-21, The Greatest Season That Was pod focused its attention on the relationship between the cricketing giants over the decades, some 20 years from the staggering 2001 encounter in India. When Australia arrived in Mumbai, the stakes were set as high as at any time in modern memory. Steve Waugh’s side were on an historic roll, but...

Some news. Due to Maxi's playing schedule being a bit unclear after the Pakistan series, we've decided to play it safe and push back our Melbourne show to the 22nd of December. Sorry to those who booked for the earlier date - ultimately, we didn't think it was right to run the gauntlet with the possibility he would need to pull out of his own book launch. In the process of making this shift, we've secured another iconic venue the old HiFi Bar (now known as Max Watt's). It's going to be a...

It's Story Time, our walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, the little-known twist of how cricket's most famous mathematicians nearly ended up with a Hawaiian feel – one we’re determined to embrace from this point forward. We then get into WA’s remarkable first Shield season and the characters who made it so. Later, the rarity and oddity of a very unusual ton, before a father-son pledge about a famous debut from a very not-famous player. Your Nerd Pledge...

Season 17, Episode 11: Eating disorders are not something associated with cricketers, especially opening bowlers. But this was the lot of in life for Ethan Bamber during the pandemic: trying to exert control, for a time he lost it entirely. This is far from the whole picture when it comes to a very capable seamer who is on the move from Lord’s to Edgbaston after seven seasons at Middlesex – the 25-year-old has one of the more interesting back stories on the circuit. It shapes the kind and...

Season 17, Episode 10: Geoff and Adam are back together at last, after 5000 miles on American roads and a lot more distance in the psyche. After catching up on events there, we have big announcements for our live shows, thoughts on the many unlucky Australian openers, the suddenly inflated worries facing the touring Indian Test side, Michael Neser's terrible luck, and the World Test Championship maths. Pakistan smash Australia, then get locked out of their own Champions Trophy tournament....

The Greatest Season That Was - The Final Frontier episode 3 – Damien Fleming: During the last Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia, the pulsating summer of 2020-21, The Greatest Season That Was pod focused its attention on the relationship between the cricketing giants over the decades, some 20 years from the staggering 2001 encounter in India. The previous time the sides met was in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney during the season of 1999-2000. Determined to build something special...

It's Story Time, our walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, how did Warney nearly become the PM’s XI captain? Via texts with the PM, of course. It’s a fixture we spend some time on, including going back to Bradman and Lillee’s final Australian fixtures. But what about the tie The Don was captained just before his mighty First Class career ended? This is riveting stuff for both Adam and Bharat Sundaresan. Also featured: the epic end to Bill Ponsford’s Test...

Season 17, Episode 9: A career total of just 10 Test Matches belies the imprint made on the game by Alex Tudor. A quick bowler who burst onto the scene in an Ashes series and made his presence felt right away, he was always good enough to mix it with the best. Injuries curtailed his international career, but his love for cricket – and continued involvement in it – has never ceased. He spoke with Adam and gave a feel for the lovely company he will be on Ambassador’s Cricket Legends Cruise in...

Season 17, Episode 8: The format of the World Test Championship has been a stick to whack it with since day dot. However, the unintended consequence of the model in place has become a feature not a flaw with five teams now in the hunt thanks to New Zealand’s stunning three-nil victory over India. For the first time in a long time, Adam has Izzy Westbury (from an undisclosed location) with him to consider what this all means along with McDreamy McSweeney’s McMentum, the first Women’s FTP, the...

The Greatest Season That Was - The Final Frontier episode 2 - Gavin Robertson: During the last Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia, the pulsating summer of 2020-21, The Greatest Season That Was pod focused its attention on the relationship between the cricketing giants over the decades, some 20 years from the staggering 2001 encounter in India. Three years earlier, the dynamic was very different with Mark Taylor’s side put to the sword by the hosts in the first couple of Tests by a...

It's Story Time, our walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, our love affair with Wangaratta grows through the story of a journeyman in the wickets against the Windies. With Daniel Norcross with Adam, long answers are inevitable and roads less travelled too – what would Australia be like had Matthew Hayden taken the chance to run for parliament? A rare triple header is tackled ton as well – a new number revisit and confirmation all in one, with (Plucka)...

Season 17, Episode 7: It’s a complicated cricketing universe – more by the month. But the joys of a Test Match, however unexpected, remain unrivalled as we saw in India and Pakistan this week. For this conversation, Adam has fellow romantic Bharat Sundaresan with him. They start with a hectic week of speculation in Australia (along with retirements, contracts, collapses and suspension cessations!) ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. They then drift into a circuitous lap around the...

Season 17, Episode 6: Before Ben Duckett boarded the plane to Pakistan, where he started in blistering form, the England Test opener sat down with Adam and Geoff in London. On the cusp of turning 30, he’s in all probability at the mid-way point of his career and never been more established as an international batter. Having first came across Duckett in a tour game nearly a decade ago, the conversation goes to that period of his career, when he first banged the door down to earn England Test...

It's Story Time, our walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, a special hosting combination with Andy Zaltzman on the Nerd Pledge tools for the first time since September 2019 (!), with his old mate Daniel Norcross. And what did they find? Well, for one, that left-handers can be ugly too. From there, a bit of Deano and a lick of Davo. Later, Greigy’s off-spin revival and Big Bird’s fine avoidance. Enjoy! Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 1.05 - Bala...

Glenn Maxwell (and Adam) – TFW Book Club You might’ve heard… we did a book. It was a team effort. The Showman, of course, has Maxi telling the story of a remarkable year in his life leading up his World Cup miracle, within his already fascinating career in the global game. Adam co-authored it with him through the course of 2024. And Geoff was the editor, putting the finishing touches on the manuscript. Together, they caught up ahead of the book’s release (30 October) to look back on the...

Season 17, Episode 5: David Warner is at it again - available for selection! But no, that won't be happening. There's nobody better to be co-hosting with Adam than Alex Malcolm from ESPNcricinfo, who is across every inch of the Sheffield Shield at this fascinating time of the year. From there, reflections from the Women's World Cup, a lap around the Test-playing world, and further concerns about the health of the global game despite CA's strong financial story. Support the show with a Nerd...

The Greatest Season That Was - The Final Frontier - Harsha Bhogle: During the last Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia, through the pulsating summer of 2020-21, The Greatest Season That Was pod focused its attention on the relationship between the cricketing giants over the decades, some 20 years from the staggering 2001 encounter in India. There was nobody better to call upon than Harsha Bhogle to paint the bigger picture to begin, speaking here with Adam, Shannon Gill and Dan...

Women's T20 World Cup, final, New Zealand v South Africa: They did it! Daniel Norcross and Cameron Ponsonby are on the scene. Go Ambassador cruising with Goochy, Aggers, Blowers and Alex Tudor from December 12-19! Pick up 10% off with finalword10 at checkout here - www.ambassadorcruiseline.com Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your Nord VPN discount - nordvpn.com/tfw Find all our links at linktr.ee/thefinalword - including our Australia Live Show...

It's Story Time, our walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, it’s the formidable combination of Bharat Sundaresan and Daniel Norcross - born for these roles. Follow the tale of Geoff Chubb, the South African on the Lord's honours board who was imprisoned by Rommel, then look at India’s forgotten victory over the West Indies that was the catalyst for Fire in Babylon. Later, they explore the curiously dismissed career of Dane Vilas and Collis King’s World Cup...

Women's T20 World Cup, semi-final 2 - New Zealand/West Indies: No matter what, there will be a new team winning the Women's T20 World Cup with New Zealand holding off the Windies in a thriller to earn the right to play South Africa on Sunday. Daniel Norcross and Cam Ponsonby are two very excited co-hosts - join them for their instant reaction from Sharjah. Go Ambassador cruising with Goochy, Aggers, Blowers and Alex Tudor from December 12-19! Pick up 10% off with finalword10 at checkout...

Women's T20 World Cup, semi-final 1 - South Africa/Australia: South Africa stunned the red-hot favourites Australia to win with ease and advance to Sunday’s final. It was an all-round performance for the ages from the Proteas, with Australia left to ponder how it all went so wrong. Cam Ponsonby and Daniel Norcross discuss an incredible result. Go Ambassador cruising with Goochy, Aggers, Blowers and Alex Tudor from December 12-19! Pick up 10% off with finalword10 at checkout here -...

Season 17, Episode 4: After all the time we spent talking about Cam Green's back last week, it has now ruled him out of the summer, and opened up a spot for openers. Away we go again, with all the Australian Shield performances, Australia A picks, and their ramifications. Also this week, Pakistan go full Pakistan after England's ridiculous win, Shakib goes full Facebook brain while retiring, Sanju Samson goes bosh, and plenty more besides. Bharat Sundaresan joins Geoff. Support the show with...

Women's T20 World Cup, Day 13 - West Indies/England: Whoa. England, undefeated and flying, did everything right until they didn't. The Windies, smashed in their opening game of the tournament, have bounced them from the comp and vaulted into the semis themselves via Net Run Rate on a dramatic final night in Dubai. Find out more with Daniel Norcross and Cam Ponsonby. Go Ambassador cruising with Goochy, Aggers, Blowers and Alex Tudor from December 12-19! Pick up 10% off with finalword10 at...

Women's T20 World Cup, Day 12 - New Zealand/Pakistan: After an early wobble that raised India’s hopes, New Zealand steadied the ship against Pakistan to win comfortably through to a semi-final that not many had predicted at the start of the tournament. Daniel Norcross and Cameron Ponsoby review the action from Dubai as we near the business end of this tournament. Go Ambassador cruising with Goochy, Aggers, Blowers and Alex Tudor from December 12-19! Pick up 10% off with finalword10 at...