
Story Time 254 – The Irishman who became a Chinese general
16/1/2026 | 1h 26 mins.
It's Story Time, our weekly walk through cricket history. This week, another vast and sprawling tale of a 20th century life that hardly seems true, from the Himalayan foothills to the Venezuelan jungle, of an intellectual and polyglot. Also, a leader who was up against it, some family rivalry, and a niche umpiring question that leads to a fight against infinity. Your Nerd Pledge numbers for this week: 3.42 - Sean Smith 8.40 - Sean Tolich 3.60 - Michael Gormley 6.10 - Lara Killick Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your copy of Bedtime Tales for Cricket Tragics: linktr.ee/tfwbook Stop snoring with 5% off a Zeus device: use code TFW2025 at zeussleeps.com Get yourself some lovely BIG Boots UK, with 10% off at this link: https://www.bigboots.co.uk/?ref=thefinalword Try the new Stomping Ground Final Word beer, or join Patreon to win a case: stompingground.beer Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Australia’s ADHD leggie – TFW Book Club with Pat Rodgers
14/1/2026 | 1h 4 mins.
Pat Rodgers – The Erratic Syd Emery It’s always a joy when Pat Rodgers, great friend of the pod, dives into a story from cricket’s pre-WW1 golden era. The subject of his latest terrific book is googly wizard Syd Emery, who emerged from the back blocks of Sydney to state and national honours in the unusual 1912 triangular Test tour of England. A star that faded as soon as it rose, Mad Mick, as he was nicknamed, was a complex man of his time who had a life that varied as markedly as his line and length. But at his best, he had what it took to beat the best – that much is beyond doubt. Buy The Erratic Syd Emery here: https://boundarybooks.com or contact Pat directly if that proves difficult from your part of the world, [email protected] Get your copy of Bedtime Tales for Cricket Tragics: linktr.ee/tfwbook Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Australia brings memories that last a lifetime. Visit Australia.com Stop snoring with 5% off a Zeus device: use code TFW2025 at zeussleeps.com Get yourself some lovely BIG Boots UK, with 10% off at this link: https://www.bigboots.co.uk/?ref=thefinalword Try the new Stomping Ground Final Word beer, or join Patreon to win a case: stompingground.beer Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the Australians relax, England brace for review season
12/1/2026 | 1h 5 mins.
Season 19, Episode 20: It's the weekly show. Normal programming is back. Except for programming at the T20 World Cup, where India's government is now feuding with Bangladesh's government, and threatening to excommunicate another Test nation from the inner sanctum. Also this week, preparing the ground ahead of England's Ashes review, the worst Big Bash segment you've ever heard, and Emma John joins the show to tell us about her travels in South Australia. Get your copy of Bedtime Tales for Cricket Tragics: linktr.ee/tfwbook Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Australia brings memories that last a lifetime. Visit Australia.com Stop snoring with 5% off a Zeus device: use code TFW2025 at zeussleeps.com Get yourself some lovely BIG Boots UK, with 10% off at this link: https://www.bigboots.co.uk/?ref=thefinalword Try the new Stomping Ground Final Word beer, or join Patreon to win a case: stompingground.beer Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Story Time 253 – An honorary degree from the University of WA
10/1/2026 | 48 mins.
It's Story Time, our weekly walk through cricket history. This week, a quick one from the SCG before it's time to pack up and ship out, but we have time for the tale of just how many degrees Saeed Ajmal had to study, and have studied, at the University of Western Australia. Also this week, Pip's first ODI back in 2008, and the subsequent story of a player we knew nothing about. Your Nerd Pledge numbers for this week: 23.88 - Dan O'Sullivan 17.17 - Pip Clarke Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Get your copy of Bedtime Tales for Cricket Tragics: linktr.ee/tfwbook Stop snoring with 5% off a Zeus device: use code TFW2025 at zeussleeps.com Get yourself some lovely BIG Boots UK, with 10% off at this link: https://www.bigboots.co.uk/?ref=thefinalword Try the new Stomping Ground Final Word beer, or join Patreon to win a case: stompingground.beer Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

TFW Ashes Daily - The Ashes are over! Time to look back
09/1/2026 | 47 mins.
The Ashes Daily 2025, 5th Test, Sydney Day 6: Toll the bells, it is over. And for this series at least, this is the final Final Word Ashes Daily. What did we just witness? Were Australia any good, or were they lucky? Did England just fail to do the course reading? Do any heads roll, or do they roll on? Adam and Geoff take a deep breath the day after to look back over it all, and ahead to what's next. Get your copy of Bedtime Tales for Cricket Tragics: linktr.ee/tfwbook Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Stop snoring with 5% off a Zeus device: use code TFW2025 at zeussleeps.com Get yourself some lovely BIG Boots UK, with 10% off at this link: https://www.bigboots.co.uk/?ref=thefinalword Try the new Stomping Ground Final Word beer, or join Patreon to win a case: stompingground.beer Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - fighting for workers since 1919: mauriceblackburn.com.au Get your big NordVPN discount: nordvpn.com/tfw Get 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: t20vision.com/FINALWORD Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices



The Final Word Cricket Podcast