The Final Word Cricket Podcast

Over the years, Tim Wigmore has penned several superb books, and this might be his best yet. Joining Daniel Norcross at lunch during a recent Surrey game, he sat down to discuss the book he wrote because it is the one he would like to read – always a good place to start. From Test cricket’s conception, he maps the lot: scarcity and status, empire to expansion, racism and rivalries, existential angst to equipment. It’s underpinned by extensive interviews with some of the greatest to have ever done it, exploring the intrigue of a form of the game that we hold so dear yet would not emerge if it were invented today. Well done, Wiggo.



Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at ⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/thefinalword⁠⁠⁠⁠



Buy Test Cricket, A History here.



Tickets for our Wormsley match, August 18: ⁠⁠⁠⁠uk.emma-live.com/WormsleyFinal2025⁠⁠⁠⁠



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Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: ⁠⁠⁠⁠mauriceblackburn.com.au⁠⁠⁠⁠



Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: ⁠⁠⁠⁠t20vision.com/FINALWORD⁠⁠⁠⁠



Save more, earn more—up to 4.48% AER (variable). Interest rates are tiered, with the top rate for balances over £1M. Each tiered rate applies to the portion within that range. New members get these rates free for 6 months; after that, your Tide plan’s rates apply. For full offer T&Cs visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tide.co/savings⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Find previous episodes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠finalwordcricket.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

Title track by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Urthboy
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Season 18, Episode 11: A charged political atmosphere this week, with Australia's election having just taken place, while the ECB fold to the current campaign to push transgender people to the margins of society. Meanwhile, India and Pakistan tensions reach their highest level in years, with cricket relations sure to be further affected. Otherwise, Kagiso Rabada is back after a spell on the Plum Warners, Bangladesh level the Test series with Zimbabwe, and there's our county wrap plus IPL with Ben Jones.



Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/thefinalword⁠⁠⁠



Tickets for our Wormsley match, August 18: ⁠⁠⁠uk.emma-live.com/WormsleyFinal2025⁠⁠⁠



Subscribe to Wisden and never pay full price for the Almanack again: ⁠www.wisdenalmanack.com/subscribe⁠



Get your big NordVPN discount: ⁠⁠⁠nordvpn.com/tfw⁠⁠⁠



Sort out expat finances with Odin Mortgage & Tax: ⁠⁠⁠odinmortgage.com/partner/the-final-word⁠⁠⁠



Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: ⁠⁠⁠mauriceblackburn.com.au⁠⁠⁠



Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: ⁠⁠⁠t20vision.com/FINALWORD⁠⁠⁠



Save more, earn more—up to 4.48% AER (variable). Interest rates are tiered, with the top rate for balances over £1M. Each tiered rate applies to the portion within that range. New members get these rates free for 6 months; after that, your Tide plan’s rates apply. For full offer T&Cs visit ⁠⁠⁠https://tide.co/savings⁠⁠⁠

Claim £100 cash back (on a £5k deposit) at: ⁠⁠⁠https://tide.co/offers/tfw⁠⁠⁠


Find previous episodes at ⁠⁠⁠finalwordcricket.com⁠⁠⁠

Title track by ⁠⁠⁠Urthboy
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It's Story Time, our walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, it's Daniel Norcross guest hosting, so he begins with a proverb to live by for running between the wickets. What exactly happened on Sandpaper Day? Adam tells the story from his vantage point in the radio box. Later, they move on to Steve Waugh's farewell, with Bharat slotting in to explain why it was someone else's final outing in Australia too - his cousin.



Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week:

4.12 - Brendan Crabb

1.50 - Andrew Pelechaty

6.85 - Tom Bustin

1.80 - Indi



Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at ⁠⁠patreon.com/thefinalword⁠⁠



Tickets for our Wormsley match, August 18: ⁠⁠uk.emma-live.com/WormsleyFinal2025⁠⁠



Subscribe to the Wisden Cricketers' Almanack and never pay RRP for it again: ⁠⁠www.wisdenalmanack.com/subscribe



Get your big NordVPN discount: ⁠⁠nordvpn.com/tfw⁠⁠



Sort out expat finances with Odin Mortgage & Tax: ⁠⁠odinmortgage.com/partner/the-final-word⁠⁠



Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: ⁠⁠mauriceblackburn.com.au⁠⁠



Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: ⁠⁠t20vision.com/FINALWORD⁠⁠



Save more, earn more—up to 4.48% AER (variable). Interest
rates are tiered, with the top rate for balances over £1M. Each tiered rate
applies to the portion within that range. New Tide members get these rates free for 6 months; after that, your Tide plan’s rates apply. For full offer T&Cs visit ⁠https://tide.co/savings⁠

Claim your £100 cash back (for a £5k deposit) at: ⁠https://tide.co/offers/tfw⁠



Find previous episodes at ⁠⁠finalwordcricket.com⁠⁠

Title track by ⁠⁠Urthboy
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Season 18 Episode 10: A left-handed opener from Perth who grew up idolising Justin Langer, in Marcus Harris you have a player who was meant to fit a certain mould. But over his long professional career, which started in 2011 when he smashed a big ton as an 18-year-old in his third game for WA, the 32-year-old has been on a journey that has seen his game evolve into the finished product following stints in the Test team. County cricket has been a significant part of that. He is currently at Lancashire in his fifth championship season, developing consistency that has confounded expectations of what his best might look like if he gets the chance for Australia again. A most engaging guest, he takes us through the rollercoaster ride and the calm that has followed.



Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/thefinalword⁠⁠⁠



Tickets for our Wormsley match, August 18: ⁠⁠⁠uk.emma-live.com/WormsleyFinal2025⁠⁠⁠



Subscribe to the Wisden Cricketers' Almanack and never pay RRP for it again: ⁠www.wisdenalmanack.com/subscribe⁠



Get your big NordVPN discount: ⁠⁠⁠nordvpn.com/tfw⁠⁠⁠



Sort out expat finances with Odin Mortgage & Tax: ⁠⁠⁠odinmortgage.com/partner/the-final-word⁠⁠⁠



Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: ⁠⁠⁠mauriceblackburn.com.au⁠⁠⁠



Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: ⁠⁠⁠t20vision.com/FINALWORD⁠⁠⁠



Save more, earn more—up to 4.48% AER (variable). Interest
rates are tiered, with the top rate for balances over £1M. Each tiered rate
applies to the portion within that range. New Tide members get these rates free for 6 months; after that, your Tide plan’s rates apply. For full offer T&Cs visit ⁠⁠⁠https://tide.co/savings⁠⁠⁠

Claim your £100 cash back (for a £5k deposit) at: ⁠⁠⁠https://tide.co/offers/tfw⁠⁠⁠


Find previous episodes at ⁠⁠⁠finalwordcricket.com⁠⁠⁠

Title track by ⁠⁠⁠Urthboy




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Season 18, Episode 9: With the power outage in Lisbon it’s Daniel Norcross stepping in this week as Adam returns to a familiar sofa under the Jardine portrait in Tooting. Fronting the agenda are off-field discussions following our Richard Gould interview, extending to how the English game might look after its latest review. The County Championship is never dull, with the Foxes of Leicestershire hunting for their first promotion as the Surrey machine clicks into top gear for the first time in 2025. There’s also plenty of action to recap in the Women’s One Day Cup before Ben Jones (on his 30th birthday!) takes us to India where the rest of the world is so focused – a staggering 35-ball ton by 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi in the IPL.



Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at ⁠⁠patreon.com/thefinalword⁠⁠



Tickets for our Wormsley match, August 18: ⁠⁠uk.emma-live.com/WormsleyFinal2025⁠⁠



Subscribe to the Wisden Cricketers' Almanack and never pay RRP for it again: www.wisdenalmanack.com/subscribe



Get your big NordVPN discount: ⁠⁠nordvpn.com/tfw⁠⁠



Sort out expat finances with Odin Mortgage & Tax: ⁠⁠odinmortgage.com/partner/the-final-word⁠⁠



Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for the rights of workers since 1919: ⁠⁠mauriceblackburn.com.au⁠⁠



Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: ⁠⁠t20vision.com/FINALWORD⁠⁠



Save more, earn more—up to 4.48% AER (variable). Interest
rates are tiered, with the top rate for balances over £1M. Each tiered rate
applies to the portion within that range. New Tide members get these rates free for 6 months; after that, your Tide plan’s rates apply. For full offer T&Cs visit ⁠⁠https://tide.co/savings⁠⁠

Claim your £100 cash back (for a £5k deposit) at: ⁠⁠https://tide.co/offers/tfw⁠⁠


Find previous episodes at ⁠⁠finalwordcricket.com⁠⁠

Title track by ⁠⁠Urthboy
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices