Ben Stokes and The Replacements

Season 10, Episode 11: Remember when England's whole team got COVID? Or something like that, everyone was watching football. That's why we got Will Macpherson on the show to tell us about England having to quarantine a squad who caught the bug at home, after pulling out of trips overseas to avoid the same. How did it happen, what's happening, and why weren't more hilarious selections made among the Replacements?

(They're going alright, as we type – four quick Pakistan wickets off the top.)

Also on this show: Mithali Raj and either the go-slow or the champion's perfect pace, depending which way you see it. Jimmy Anderson gets 1000 first-class wickets, and why he might be the last to do so. Pavel Florin takes a stack of his own in T20s as Romania run the table. Ollie Robinson's case gets closed. And everyone loves a review these days - Justin Langer and his players face up to an independent look at his coaching style.

Your Nerd Pledge number:
3.29 - Lachlan Smith

(Make that five wickets, with a run out.)

YouTube is down

For us, anyway. Our editor is replacing some equipment, so we'll expect to be back in operation next week, if anyone was wondering.

A couple of midweek shows might be out Thursday rather than Wednesday in the next few weeks, too, as was the case today, as we juggle various broadcast commitments.

Live the dream, own a brewery

We mentioned on the show last week that we're living the dream, with Brick Lane Brewing Community arriving as TFW's sponsor for the rest of the year. As we also mentioned, booze is not for everybody, and not good for everybody, so we don't want anyone to feel pressured or excluded. It's an optional extra. Feel free to drop us a line if any concerns arise. 

If you want to check out Brick Lane here's their Instagram, FB, Twitter.

Story Time 52 – Chocolate Starfish live at the Hallam Hotel

It's back, baby. New episode out as of last weekend. And it's a fun one. The coolest band name of Adam's youth makes an unexpected appearance. We crunch some numbers on Lawrence Rowe, tackle a proper cryptic, and look at days when it was all about swinging for the fences, once by a Test player and once by TFW listener Osman Bahemia. There's also another appearance from Geoff's own Jean Valjean.

Audio is here.

Your new Nerd Pledge numbers:
2.38 – Dom Griffiths
2.85 – Sid
5.96 – Pete Simmons
2.57 – Josh
4.08 – Lachan Pye
1.99 – Alan Simpson

Plus revisits and confirmations.

Running the Thames

Our listener Declan Lawlor is about to start his several marathons along the length of the Thames River. If you'd like to urge him on you can donate to his Lord's Tavs fundraiser here.

As usual, you can get 20% off Woodstock Cricket kit on their website with TFW20, and 44% off a Wisden Cricket Monthly subscription at Adam's favourite URL.

Six wickets down now. Matt Parkinson takes his first. Ashes smoky?

See you next week :)