Robinson and racism, with Vithushan Ehantharajah

Season 10, Ep 7: Vish joins the show in a busy week in England after Ollie Robinson was suspended following his Test debut. We talk through the purpose of his suspension, his history of racist jokes, and what part is played by age – either of the comments themselves or the person making them.

Also: Dan Christian for Australia! He's in the touring squad. But how many weeks of quarantine is it reasonable to ask of someone? The England women's contracts are announced, the Heyhoe-Flint trophy is full of runs, and Netherlands keep on winning against bigger teams.

Video of the interview section is above, audio of the full show is here.

Your Nerd Pledge number this week:
5.12 – Dominic da Souza Correa

The Final Word Daily

Is back now that the Test matches have started. We're doing England-NZ, then the World Test Championship, plus the India-England women's Test, and the five men's Tests to follow. Video versions will be on the YouTube channel, audio on the podcast feed.

Geoff's lockdown stationery solution, as discussed on the show.

Story Time 50 – A gentle wave of the bat

Raise the bat: 50 episodes of this indulgence are somehow in the bag. We'll have both Mad Dogs and Englishmen, midday sun or otherwise. A closer look at the fitting finish to an epic Test series, an exhibition of T20 perfection, some pure filth from 100 years earlier, and the Final Word's party number gets another run. This is also the week for a chaotic attempt at Julio Pledge! The far less accomplished game on the show.

Audio is here.

Your new Nerd Pledge numbers:
4.19 – Dan Walsh & Alastair Wilson
2.73 – Brian Stratford
3.24 – Dane Hansted
3.69 – Sam Littlejohn
2.13 – Harrison Payne

Our Julio Pledgers:
Nick Rice
Anand Viswanathan
Paul Dennett
Jagannathan Tiruvallur Eachambadi
Ross Davey
Alex
Pranav Lalan
Susheel R Ramasahayam
Brian Withington
Rob Kingston
Eleanor Higgs
Richard Oakley
Mohit
Mark Peckham
Matt Whitehouse
James Mulcahy
Matt Featherstone
Peter James Patrick Blondi
Josh Williams
Tane Aikman

Plus revisits and confirmations.

Somehow it's June. We're currently on 613 patrons, Jimmy Anderson on 616 wickets. The chase is on.