The Final Word Cricket Podcast
by Adam Collins, Geoff Lemon
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
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Australia's path to another WTC final gets tougher
Season 21, Episode 5: With Adam back at Lord's for a day of recording, it's time to start with South Africa's clearing path to the WTC final in the context of current world cricket. Bangladesh have blown a huge opportunity against West Indies, India need all the points against New Zealand, and...
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Exclusive: Glenn Maxwell announces his international retirement
Season 21, Episode 4: It was the cricketing day we've dreaded most, though we knew it had to arrive some day. Glenn Maxwell's time in the green and gold, and in Victorian blue, will come to an end. The career that more than any has fascinated and delighted The Final Word. Don't be sad that it's...
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Australia have been belted. What change does the future demand?
South Africa Australia Daily, 3rd Test, Cape Town Day 6: Heads have to roll, right? After Australia's batting got ripped to pieces two Tests running, nobody can argue that the problems were not evident. Yet they were not addressed by those in charge. What can be done with this team from here to...
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TFW Daily - Torn to shreds - South Africa Australia, 3rd Test, Cape Town Day 5
South Africa Australia Daily, 3rd Test, Cape Town Day 5: The contest was set up beautifully before a ball was bowled, but with Kagiso Rabada breathing fire in his first spell, the calculus for the day quickly changed. Moments of chaos were followed by tactical resistance, with so many moments…
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TFW Daily - All set for a belter - South Africa Australia, 3rd Test, Cape Town Day 4
South Africa Australia Daily, 3rd Test, Cape Town Day 4: South Africa’s batters continued the ebb and flow of an engrossing series, setting up a classic finish on the fifth day of the deciding Test. Ryan Rickleton and Wiaan Mulder swung the pendulum back to the hosts. All four results are…
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TFW Daily - Lyon's late twist - South Africa Australia, 3rd Test, Cape Town Day 3
South Africa Australia Daily, 3rd Test, Cape Town Day 3: The hits just keep on hitting. Each day of this Test has had a buffet on offer, and it hasn't been the bowling. Australia began with the slenderest of leads, and had to build something, then South Africa had their chance to respond. Bavuma...
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TFW Daily - Scores are level - South Africa Australia, 3rd Test, Cape Town Day 2
South Africa Australia Daily, 3rd Test, Cape Town Day 2: A day that could shape the next few years of international cricket. Marco Jansen, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, and Matt Renshaw all made their mark on a day that went to the tea break with the same pattern of fluctuating fortunes, not least...
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TFW Daily - It had everything - South Africa Australia, 3rd Test, Cape Town Day 1
South Africa Australia Daily, 3rd Test, Cape Town Day 1: Injury dramas and controversial selections set the stage for a day that featured match-turning partnerships and game-changing collapses. It was high-octane, then sedate, then back to chaotic, and the capacity crowd followed every thrill and...
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TFW Daily - Boland, Lyon, or left-field? - South Africa Australia, 3rd Test, Cape Town Preview
South Africa Australia Daily, 3rd Test, Cape Town Preview: Australia go into tomorrow’s series-deciding 3rd Test with more questions than answers. Who plays, and in what order? Gerald Coetzee has been named to replace Anrich Nortje, suggesting South Africa won’t let up on its confrontational...
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Why do Test teams hate picking openers who are openers?
Season 21, Episode 3: This week, Daniel Norcross joins Geoff to ponder upcoming winter and the conventions of naming storm systems, as we tell ourselves that we'll talk about something other than just South Africa and Australia, then inevitably do that anyway. Also this week, 400s in run chases,...
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TFW Daily - Fight to the finish - South Africa Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha Day 5
South Africa Australia Daily, 2nd Test, Gqeberha Day 5: It wasn't supposed to go that deep. But then, a nightwatchman isn't supposed to bowl all day. And a team's fourth seamer isn't supposed to bowl the best deliveries. The unexpected came around in various ways in the push to the finish line at...
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TFW Daily - The worst collapse since last time - South Africa Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha Day 4
South Africa Australia Daily, 2nd Test, Gqeberha Day 4: It may be the tipping point for some careers to end in the Australian top order, as only Travis Head was able to make a score of note against the world-class bowling of the South Africans, with Marco Jansen backing up his batting with five...
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TFW Daily - A knock for the ages - South Africa Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha Day 3
South Africa Australia Daily, 2nd Test, Gqeberha Day 3: It would take something monumental to flip the series on its head, and the man smallest in stature stood the tallest to do just that. Can Australia come out swinging tomorrow to keep their 1-0 advantage? Bharat Sundaresan joins Adam Collins…
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TFW Daily - Boland v Bavuma - South Africa Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha Day 2
South Africa Australia Daily, 2nd Test, Gqeberha Day 2: There was a long wait to get onto the park, but a session of highlights followed - a blinding catch, supreme bowling, and some balls flying out of the park as Temba Bavuma tried to drag South Africa out of the Scott Boland-shaped hole .…
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TFW Daily - Boland goes bang bang - South Africa Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha Day 1
South Africa Australia Daily, 2nd Test, Gqeberha Day 1: Australia pulled the Scott Boland lever and got the result they wanted. Nathan Lyon made way again. What does that mean for the next 12 months? Geoff Lemon joins Adam Collins from St George's Park in Gqeberha. Could you support the show? You...
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TFW Daily - Lyon faces the drop again - South Africa Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha Day 0
South Africa Australia Daily, 2nd Test, Gqeberha Day 0: One day out from the 2nd Test, and it might be an all-pace battery one again for Australia, if the signs from the nets are anything to go by. And who better to read the nets than Bharat Sundaresan? He joins Adam Collins from Australian team...
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Story Time 291 – The Bharat Sundaresan request line
It’s Story Time, our weekly walk through cricket history. This week, a few listeners have been hanging out for Bharat to come back on the show, but it's been a while. This week, he tells two stories designed for him to tell, both involving icons of the 1980s. Also, another Bharat-linked tale…
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John Farnham will see you at Rundle Mall, bright and early
Season 21, Episode 2: The weekly show! Coming to you from St George's Park, in Gqeberha, the city formerly known as Port Elizabeth. But what else is happening beyond South Africa? There's Stick Cricket in India courtesy of Shai Hope and his West Indies side, the Sheffield Shield has started, some...
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TFW Daily - Are the Aussies good now? - SA Australia, 1st Test, Durban Day 6
South Africa Australia Daily, 1st Test, Durban Day 6: Time to look back. This was one of the more significant engagements for Australia for a while, and a match that could have gone so badly wrong ended up going very strongly right. How much of that is built on solid foundations, and what needs...
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TFW Daily - Hazlewood’s magnificent six - South Africa Australia, 1st Test, Durban Day 5
South Africa Australia Daily, 1st Test, Durban Day 5: It didn't come as quickly as expected, but Australia's relentless bowling paid dividends, with Josh Hazlewood taking 6 wickets. As ever, Aiden Markram provided stern resistance for the hosts. What happens with selection in Gqeberha? Pat…
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TFW Daily - Hot Hand Matt - South Africa Australia, 1st Test, Durban
South Africa Australia Daily, 1st Test, Durban Day 4: Matt Renshaw's coming-of-age party continued with bat, then subsequently, ball. Concerns over a Steve Smith head knock linger for Australia, whilst their recent nemesis Aiden Markram and the lower order look to invoke memories of Adelaide…
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TFW Daily - Smith's classic catches reel - South Africa Australia, 1st Test, Durban
South Africa Australia Daily, 1st Test, Durban Day 3: Steve Smith created his own highlight reel in the slips, and Australia piled on the pressure off the back of his mits. South Africa are still scrapping hard to keep in the contest, and there was chance for Nic Maddinson. Bharat Sundaresan…
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TFW Daily - A coming of age - South Africa Australia, 1st Test, Durban
South Africa Australia Daily, 1st Test, Durban Day 2: A big Queenslander made Australia feel comfortable again, whilst South Africa searched for answers and battled hard. It was a day of Test cricket like the old days, with Day 3 and the series set up beautifully. Bharat Sundaresan Joins Adam...
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TFW Daily - Maddinson under the bus - South Africa Australia, 1st Test, Durban
South Africa Australia Daily, 1st Test, Durban Day 1: South Africa Australia Daily, 1st Test, Durban Day 1: Australia pulled another shock beyond Nic Maddinson’s selection by asking him to open. The results won't be something that anyone wants to remember. Lunch was important, Nortje bowled fire,...
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TFW Daily - Why no Aussie XI? - South Africa Australia, 1st Test, Durban
South Africa Australia Daily, 1st Test, Durban Preview: The talking is almost over. 1 vs 2 in world cricket: a series with narrative everywhere you look. South Africa will play its first home Test since last year’s glorious WTC final, with a lineup very similar to June 2025. One superstar comes…
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Australia's return to South Africa launches in 3, 2, 1...
Season 21, Episode 1: Another week, a new season, as the southern hemisphere summer swings into action. All things South Africa lead the show, with both that team and Australia making squad changes, some more controversial than others. The one-day World Cup schedule for 2027 is out a year ahead…
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Story Time 290 – When Gavaskar did what Bradman couldn't
It’s Story Time, our weekly walk through cricket history. This week, one question: was there any game played in the 19th century that wasn't at Lord's? A self-styled pioneer with a pseudonym certainly got his fill of pavilion lunches. Also, do South Australians play for South Australia? We test...
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TFW Daily - Peake into the future - South Africa Australia, 3rd ODI
South Africa Australia Daily, 3rd ODI, Potchefstroom: South Africa gave some of their younger players a gallop in the North-West University town, and Australia let their big names stretch their legs. Alex Carey and Pat Cummins made Australia look comfortable, but Oliver Peake and Xavier Bartlett...
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It's decapitation week at Cricket Australia
Season 20, Episode 32: We called it: CA chair Mike Baird has been knocked off by New South Wales, and the cricket privatisation war could now turn in any directions Can we short-circuit the conflict by crowdfunding the Renegades, and signing Will Bosisto into the bargain? Over in South Africa…
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Story Time 289 – Saving Allan Border's secret world record
It’s Story Time, our weekly walk through cricket history. This week, we might need some help to get this one across the line, but there's a world record that need reclaiming from some dubious operators, and it involves Australia's greatest Test captain. Come with us to find out more. Also this...
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TFW Daily - Cam Green troubles - South Africa Australia, 2nd ODI
South Africa Australia Daily, 2nd ODI, Johannesburg: Australia were bullish at the Bullring, talking about levelling the series. South Africa's batters levelled the Australians. The chase was hefty, but the chasing was just as Bison-sized. So could the visitors correct their course this time...
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TFW Daily - Big moment, Big Marco - South Africa Australia, 1st ODI
South Africa Australia Daily, 1st ODI, Durban: In the lead-up to the Test series, this one-day series has extra significance. Starc was here, so was Hazlewood, with Cummins in the wings. And in true one-day style, this first game twisted, turned, drifted, and dipped. Matthew Breetzke and Big…
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Could Mike Baird be knocked off as CA chair?
Season 20, Episode 31: With Mike Baird's CA board seat at risk, a resignation has seen an independent spot open up. Deidre Chambers, what a coincidence. Stephen Fleming arrives as England’s adult in the room, while Mark Wood announced his retirement much more slowly than he bowled. Australia have…
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Story Time 288 – Argentina, global nemesis
It’s Story Time, our weekly walk through cricket history. This week, a massive tangent from Argentine cricket into Argentine global conspiracy theories. Does it make sense? Not sure, come with us anyway. Also this week, a very puzzling New Zealand story that starts in the 1960s, and a burly and...
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Story Time 287 – One free Buttercup Bread scratchie inside
It’s Story Time, our weekly walk through cricket history. This week, what happens when you find a Buttercup Bread scratchie featuring Courtney Walsh from either 1996 or 2000? You find out if we won. Also this week, a disappearing act, tales of the North, and how the best debut wasn't much valued…
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The soul of Australian cricket (for sale, enquire within)
Season 20, Episode 30: Does anyone have deja vu yet? Another week, another Cricket Australia announcement that they have approved selling the Big Bash even though they can't sell it yet, another round of smashing the panic button to say that if they don't sell now it will be TOO LATE. Also this...
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Story Time 286 – The sandpaper redux
It’s Story Time, our weekly walk through cricket history. This week, Geoff and Adam were meant to do four numbers rather than two, but with the Sandpaper Redux tour looming, it seemed an apt time to revisit 2018 in detail. Also this week, a spot of Bradman mythbusting. Your Nerd Pledge numbers…
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TFW Daily - Just for a moment - England Pakistan, 3rd Test, Edgbaston Day 4
England Pakistan Daily, 3rd Test, Edgbaston Day 4: For a final intoxicating moment, the chance of a miracle continued to beckon. But it would take more than a shock comeback to solve the problems of Pakistan cricket. It is telling that our first reaction after a sensational debut is to fear for...
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TFW Daily - Do you believe in miracles? - England Pakistan, 3rd Test, Edgbaston Day 3
England Pakistan Daily, 3rd Test, Edgbaston Day 3: The obituaries of this Pakistan tour to England will mourn the lack of flair, passion, and the unknown of old, but in Razaullah they have unearthed a player who can swashbuckle with the best of them. Nine sixes on debut, to add to his four...
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TFW Daily - Hello brink, old friend - England Pakistan, 3rd Test, Edgbaston Day 2
England Pakistan Daily, 3rd Test, Edgbaston Day 2: There is, for a moment, something to cheer for: a tall charismatic young fast bowler with tungsten hair and a silken wrist. Enter Test cricket, for at least a moment, Razaullah. Indeed, if you started this match halfway through the day, you would...
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TFW Daily - A glimpse of light - England Pakistan, 3rd Test, Edgbaston Day 1
England Pakistan Daily, 3rd Test, Edgbaston Day 1: There is, for a moment, something to cheer for: a tall charismatic young fast bowler with tungsten hair and a silken wrist. Enter Test cricket, for at least a moment, Razaullah. Indeed, if you started this match halfway through the day, you would...
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TFW Daily - Bring back Shahid Afridi - England Pakistan, 3rd Test, Edgbaston preview
England Pakistan Daily, 3rd Test, Edgbaston preview: As the news of new-look teams gets prepared for the third Test, nobody has any idea who Pakistan might pick to play, or whether any of those players has a future beyond one Test match. Is it time to call for Shahid Afridi? As for England, they...
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Marnus Labuschagne may never be dropped again
Season 20, Episode 29: It's always Labuschagne season in Australia. We all thought that his time was done for now, but somehow he's been picked on the trip to his country of birth. What is the rationale from George Bailey and his selection troupe? Also this week, Kevin Pietersen is back for...
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Story Time 285 – Bring back the Matador BBQ Cup
It’s Story Time, our weekly walk through cricket history. This week, Geoff and Adam ask if batting on all five days of a Test really is the feat we build it up to be? We look at Mali’s brief and unusual international frolic before reflecting on the second glory period of Australian one-day…
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TFW Book Club - Zaheer Abbas on Pakistani cricket and his life in the game
Zaheer Abbas is an all-time great. An illustrious international career on top of his first-class exploits in Pakistan and England combined for 46,000 professional runs, telling the story in a line. As the only Asian player to score 100 centuries, he was a ton machine as well as a stylist. His new...
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When Pakistan really did say “Sack them all”
Season 20, Episode 28: The PCB go from meme material to utter embarrassment. Lord’s pitch has a renewal plan, Sri Lanka pull off one of the great rearguards, and Kagiso Rabada may miss the entire Sandpaper Redux as Australia make selection moves. The Mr Sheffield Shield re-cuts the cricketing…
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Story Time 284 – Good set of hands in the slips, good set of slips in the hands
It's Story Time, our weekly walk through cricket history. This week, some players are top of the good stats, others see things slip through their fingers. There's an unlikely county champ from the far side of the globe, a champion who just popped in from the gardening, and the ultimate purveyor…
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TFW Daily - Here’s to you, Ollie Robinson - England Pakistan, 2nd Test, Lord’s Day 4
England Pakistan Daily, 2nd Test, Lord’s Day 4: Could it be that Ollie Robinson, in the wilderness for 2 years prior to this summer, is England’s most important bowler? The England seam bowler showed supreme command in helpful conditions against a Pakistan batting lineup that showed flickers of...
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TFW Daily - Lord’s faces more pitch questions - England Pakistan, 2nd Test, Lord’s Day 3
England Pakistan Daily, 2nd Test, Lord’s Day 3: Lord’s got 24 overs more play than was expected on a day that otherwise would have been abandoned early due to its world-class drainage system, but the pitch is still at the centre of debate. Is it the conditions and a frail Pakistani batting lineup...
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TFW Daily - Root concerns as Pakistan wither - England Pakistan, 2nd Test, Lord’s Day 2
England Pakistan Daily, 2nd Test, Lord’s Day 2: The second morning of the second Test began with promise for Pakistan. An injury before play, a wagging tail, and surgically precise bowling changed everything. England’s varied attack challenged Pakistan at every turn, with just enough help in the...
About this show
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
Hosted by
Adam Collins, Geoff Lemon