The Final Word Cricket Podcast

World Test Championship Final, Day 3: South Africa have looked the underdog throughout this WTC final, but halfway through the third day, that all changed. Even the torment that Starc and Hazlewood put them through with the bat was washed away, as Aiden Markram put together the innings of his life. But they're not done yet, and for South Africa, the last part of the climb has so far proved too hard. Can they finish the job on Day 4? Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/thefinalword⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We welcome Noobru to our team! We love the stuff. Get 15% off right away by clicking: ⁠⁠⁠noobru.com/finalword⁠⁠⁠ 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 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 4.22% 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

World Test Championship Final, Day 2: If Rabada fired on day one, Cummins fired back on day two, in a battle of fast-bowling quality that any preview could and should have predicted. Then it was Lungi Ngidi's turn to exert an influence, in a match hurtling towards a conclusion but that could easily go either way. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/thefinalword⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We welcome Noobru to our team! We love the stuff. Get 15% off right away by clicking: ⁠⁠noobru.com/finalword⁠⁠ 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 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 4.22% 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

World Test Championship Final, Day 1: South Africa needed to do some damage with their quick bowlers early to challenge Australia, and they did exactly that. It set up a tight contest through the day, with Lord's in fine voice, before Australia's quicks had their own say by the close. A shootout might well be on. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/thefinalword⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We welcome Noobru to our team! We love the stuff. Get 15% off right away by clicking: ⁠noobru.com/finalword⁠ 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 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 4.22% 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

World Test Championship Final, Day 0: It's here. Two years of Test cricket ends with a decider at the ground where it was always designed to be when it was first dreamed up - Lord's. The teams are as ready as they're ever going to be, the XIs named, and we're ready to roll with Adam enjoying Bharat Sundaresan's company as they run through the lot of it. Here we go. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/thefinalword⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We welcome Noobru to our team! We love the stuff. Get 15% off right away by clicking: noobru.com/finalword 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 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 4.22% 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 18, Episode 18: Cricket Australia's new CEO came ready to talk when sitting down with Adam at Lord's two days before the WTC Final. Typically at this point, we list what was discussed but this time, but it'd be easier to identify what didn't come up in one of the busiest eps we've ever recorded. What's obvious: Todd Greenberg is a man determined to make his time in the top job count and isn't afraid to say what he thinks on issues that divide. 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 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 4.22% 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's Story Time, our walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, who is the most significant Test cricketer who doesn't even have one line of a Cricinfo bio? We've got a top contender, then it's over to you. Also this week, a different twist on Pakistani marathons, the Irish-India connection, and one of the worst to wield the willow. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 6.64 - Tom Logan 9.60 - Xavier Bochat 4.72 - Dan 1.42 - Bala Sivaraman Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/thefinalword⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Tickets for our Wormsley match, August 18: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠uk.emma-live.com/WormsleyFinal2025⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get your big NordVPN discount: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠nordvpn.com/tfw⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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 4.22% 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 18, Episode 17: The IPL turned 18 this year, old enough for Royal Challengers Bangalore to finally buy a celebratory drink after falling short in every season. Virat Kohli and co will be happy, as will Ben Jones in our IPL segment, after picking Krunal Pandya way back at the start of the season to be the difference. Before that, World Test Championship lead-up, Karun Nair and Kurtis Patterson continue the comeback trail, more Olympic machinations emerge, and Bangladesh will once more be Aminul House. 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 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 4.22% 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 18, Episode 16: A special ep today – yes, Glenn Maxwell has retired from One Day International cricket. In this exclusive conversation, he explains that decision in his own words, the timing and wider context. From there, we went back to the beginning to the tell the story of Maxi the one-day mainstay, in a mighty career that in this format that spanned 14 years and included two World Cup wins. As always, he was on top form in this chat – a lovely way to put a full stop on one of Australia’s most thrilling and eventful 50-over journeys. And, of course, we’re grateful that it’s on The Final Word where he wanted to make this announcement. Enjoy. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/thefinalword⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We have 47 runners in the Edinburgh Marathon Festival.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Donate to get us to our £30k fundraising target⁠⁠⁠⁠ for The Lord's Taverners. 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 4.22% 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's Story Time, our walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, almost silent and almost deadly, was Malcolm Marshall the best to ever fire down the ball at pace? Also, when a couple of Australians went big, the one with a triple and the one who threw it away. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 2.15 - Liam Fallon 3.76 - Ben McLeod 2.51 - Oliver Jawara 8.54 - Alex Brown Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/thefinalword⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We have 47 runners in the Edinburgh Marathon Festival.⁠⁠⁠ Donate to get us to our £30k fundraising target⁠⁠⁠ Tickets for our Wormsley match, August 18: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠uk.emma-live.com/WormsleyFinal2025⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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 4.22% 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 18, Episode 15: As England took care of Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, India's new-look Test squad has arrived, with glamour option Shubman Gill leading the side, but we're much more excited about the comeback trail for Karun Nair and a first chance for our emotional investment, Sai Sudarshan. In other news, Big Ange is on the way out (not that one), Ireland are making runs, Hayley Matthews is screaming into the void, and The Dicks are together again for the WTC final. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/thefinalword⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We have 47 runners in the Edinburgh Marathon Festival.⁠⁠⁠ Donate to get us to our £30k fundraising target⁠⁠⁠ for The Lord's Taverners. 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 4.22% 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices