Welcome to interview season
March 18, 2026
With flowers poking through in the UK signalling the countdown to the start of the county season, combined with the freedom afforded by no major international cricket to focus on, it gives us here at The Final Word the opportunity to explore more widely.
The corresponding timeframe last year saw a slew of feature interviews, including Keaton Jennings, Marcus Harris, Kyle Abbot, Jack Leach and more. As these were so well received, we're currently scouring county teams for chatty players. That begins today with our interview of one of the Next Big Things™️of English cricket, Asa Tribe.
Of course, we bought you Clare Connor's near-exit interview last week, and we have plenty more ideas for Adam to enact his Michael Parkinson (which gives me another idea: Matt Parkinson. I will add him to the list).
There's been some exciting progress behind the scenes, not to mention some cool merch ideas that are getting the finishing touches.
We're back into the old routine for the time being, of weekly eps and Story Times, with feature interviews sprinkled over the top.
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Player auctions are absolutely bonkers
Season 19 Episode 33: Does anyone understand how players end up valued in auctions, like what we saw for The Hundred last week? Daniel Norcross has a crack at explaining it to Adam. They’re on more comfortable ground talking all things Shield and debating controversial dismissals. Later, will the BBL be privatised? Sounds like we’ll know by Easter. Which is when the county championship returns, which will warm us inside and out as the IPL begins its marathon.
Click to listen
Story Time 262 – A football megastar's strange Shield cameo
This week, a detailed analysis of every Adam to turn out in a first class game, with the most interesting tale of them all the guy who played only once, yet had time to run into a Final Word fave. Speaking of them, a double from a former guest is featured by Daniel Norcross, who is with Adam this week in the co-host seat. To finish, The Great Barrie Robran’s unexpected Sheffield Shield cameo.
Your Nerd Pledge numbers for this week:
14.29 - Niall Taylor
2.07 – Chris68
8.88 – Richard L
7.00 – Robran Cock
Clare Connor's exit interview
Season 19 Episode 32: Three months to the day from the start of the Women's T20 World Cup, there's nobody better to chat with, to chart the rise of the women's game in the nine years since England last hosted a global tournament, than Clare Connor. A giant of cricket administration, she's had her fingerprints over the transformation we've all seen; her ambition, in so many ways, now realised. A guest well known to our audience, Clare spoke with Adam about her nearly two decades as managing director of the women's game at the ECB, as she prepares for what comes next after announcing she's finishing in the role at the end of this huge summer.
Thanks for another great week
All our lovin'
TFW x