Season 6, Ep 8: Hard to find a better conversationalist than England fast bowler Kate Cross. She's from Manchester way, blunt as you like, good turn of phrase and funny as hell. And she's learned a lot about elite sport, the bridge from amateur to professional, and the difficulty in holding it all together. And she's so chilled out that she kicked back with Geoff and Adam at the ground in Hove just a couple of hours before taking on against Australia. On today's episode we also cover Ireland's fast-forward debut at Lord's, the Australia v Australia warm-up at Southampton, Meg Lanning's record-breaking hundred, and the Ashes squads for both men's sides.

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The Final Word with Kate Cross

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.

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Season 16, Episode 8: We've seen her do unreal things before, but this one was the best of the lot. The biggest chase ever in women's cricket, with Chamari ending on 195 not out. Also this week, Meg Lanning's interview about her struggles, the new English women's domestic structure becomes clear, and in men's cricket we have Australian domestic players refusing state contracts, Scott Boland injured out of the county season, Peter Siddle going around yet again, and another hectic week in the run-fest IPL. 

Your Nerd Pledge number this week:
82.15 - Pat Dempsey

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Chamari Athapaththu launches into space

Season 16, Episode 7: It's been a rugged month at Cricket Ireland. In a buoyant mood after winning their first men's Test Match in March, the focus has quickly moved to internal affairs, whether that be the postponement of Australia's visit, budgets or company cars. It's the perfect time for another chat with Warren Deutrom, who has been the chief executive at CI head office since 2006. To help frame this detailed conversation, Nathan Johns from the Irish Times also joined Adam in Dublin. 
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Get down to Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City! More extra, less ordinary. westfield.com/united-kingdom/london

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What's the craic in Ireland at the moment? With CEO Warren Deutrom

It's Story Time, our weekly walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, a search for the greatest Welsh all-rounder, and another search for a run out of historical significance. We have a caller on the line sounds weirdly like Steven Finn, an unexpected link from Bradman to Murali, and a song of praise for the most swoon-worthy wrist position of all.

Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week:
10.00 - Anna Forsyth
4.00 - Amelia Vine
4.78 - Ed Barr-Sim
9.51 - Darragh O'Donovan

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Story Time 178 – Wherever you go, there is Gary Pratt

Season 1, Ep 5: Reloading lost episodes from the early Final Word. Partway through a busy Australian tour of England in 2015, it was time to take stock of the short format. We started in The Cricketers pub in Cardiff, recording with Melinda Farrell after the Women's Ashes had just finished with three T20s. Two new women's T20 competitions were soon to start in Australia's Big Bash and England's Super League. So we spoke about the start of men's professional T20s in 2003 with Paul Robertson, the man who led that charge. Then we dropped in on journalist Peter Miller to talk T20 evangelism and look at the upcoming 50-over series between Australia and England men. On new recruit Jason Roy: "I think he'll do a pretty good job at the top of the order."
This season was originally recorded for the ABC - this is the extended edition, restoring removed material.

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Archive ep: The beginnings of T20 cricket, from a Cardiff pub

Season 16, Episode 6: One of our staples is to speak with Lawrence Booth, the editor of the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, on the day of its release in the Lord’s Library. In this, his 13th edition in charge, no punches are pulled. As he says in his editors’ notes, it’s clear that the future of Test cricket, beyond the wealthiest nations, really is at the crossroads. And as always, there’s so much more celebrating the year that was – forthright and thoughtful, the good book is doing exactly as it should.

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

Get your 10% discount on top-notch kit from Serious Cricket.
Use FINALWORD24 at checkout --> seriouscricket.co.uk

Get that sweet Nord VPN discount - nordvpn.com/tfw
Run or donate to the 2024 Edinburgh Marathon for the Lord's Taverners
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Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com
Title track by Urthboy
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The Final Word with Kate Cross

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