The Final Word Boxing Day Eve

Merry Boxing Day Eve! Tomorrow we will back at a well-grassed MCG to see if we can complete a one-day Test match. The two-dayer in Brisbane was so much fun. See the Daily above.

Once again we haven't managed to send the Wednesday email on a Wednesday, so there are even more episodes to tell you about. And there's a special Boxing Day bonus coming tomorrow.

Our now-traditional Final Word Christmas interview is in your feeds, this year a long chat with Simon Katich. Thinking of all of you. The people who might a break to hide from other people for an hour. The people who are spending Christmas on their own and wouldn't mind some company. The people on long drives or long-haul flights or long kayak trips and want something in their ears. 

That is Season 13, Ep 13: a tradition following interviews with Harsha Bhogle, Jim Maxwell, Mel Jones and Michael Atherton. After a long career batting and bowling for Australia, Simon Katich has spent a good number of years working alongside us as a broadcaster. Once described as the conscience of Australian cricket, he's a wonderful guest at our Christmas lunch.

Audio is here.

Story Time 117 – Made in heaven

A searing injustice with a divine tinge gets another look. As does one of the greatest of the greats, and one at the other end of the spectrum. Plus, have you ever wanted to know about every player who debuted in a Sheffield Shield match against Alan Mullally? Well it's your lucky day.

Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week:
6.00 - Eric Pritchard
3.76 - Peter Lewis
1.94 - Reverend Nicholls
9.10 - Panos
3.55 - Vijay, Joseph Brookshaw & Jake Sheedy

Audio is here.

Riding the Test rollercoaster from Brisbane to Karachi

Season 13, Ep 12: Before the Christmas ep we had an unexpected weekly show given the two-day Test, but we had to talk about the two-day Test. Also, English writer Cameron Ponsonby joins us from the hotel in Karachi where we spent way too much time in March, with thoughts on the truly wild 3-0 series that he has just watched, and more broadly the experience of touring Pakistan. Meanwhile, Australia's women rack up a huge score against India as we record, and ponder the 58th coming of Ellyse Perry and the consistent menace of Grace Harris.

Audio is here.

Story Time 116 - Are we human or are we dancer?

Yes, another Story Time. This was back in Melbourne with Adam and Geoff sitting across the coffee table together, neither of us on the brink of hospitalisation: a rare pleasure and privilege. This time, back to the streets of Philadelphia, a possible clerical error of historic importance, Crazy Chester, nicknames that never go away, becoming the optimum indie rock snob, and the correct soundtrack for drives around Iceland.

Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week:
8.97 - Jeffrey Gabriel
16.10 - James Ralston
1.75 - Thomas Melia
6.21 - Not That Tim Minchin
5.50 - Joel Burton
4.06 - Simon Butcher
2.71 - Richard L.
4.18 - Leigh Couchman

Audio is here.

Enjoy your day: whether celebrating it or ignoring it, we raise our glasses to you.