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Stumped

BBC World Servicewww.bbc.co.uk

The weekly cricket show from BBC Sport in association with ABC and Akashvani.

Episodes

Peter Siddle on his first-class career and the news that the Gabba is going

***This episode contains references to Postnatal depression. If you are suffering distress or despair and need support, you could speak to a health professional, or an organisation that offers support. Details of help available in many countries can be found at Befrienders Worldwide: befrienders.org*** This weeks Stumped with Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma features an interview with former Australia pace bowler Peter Siddle. Siddle talks about Sachin Tendulkar being his first Test...

Mar 27, 202538 min

IPL preview, WPL review and how to fix your cricket bat

This week’s Stumped with Nikesh Rughani, Jim Maxwell and Sunil Gupta is an Indian T20 franchise special. The 18th edition of the Indian Premier League starts on 22 March, and the team discuss the major talking points heading into the tournament, including Kolkata Knight Riders selecting Ajinkya Rahane as captain and if this could be the year for Virat Kohli's RCB to win their first title? We reflect on Mumbai Indians winning the Women’s Premier League for the second time in three years. Plus, we...

Mar 20, 202537 min

Can India's men dominate white ball cricket for a decade?

On this week's Stumped, Alison Mitchell, Brett Sprigg and Charu Sharmu discuss India’s dominance of the men’s white ball game - will it continue all the way through to next year’s T20 World Cup and beyond? It’s after India added the Champions Trophy to the T20 World Cup they won in Barbados last year. Virat Kohli reckons this current squad has enough talent to "take on the world" for the next eight years. We speak to Cricket Australia’s outgoing Chief Executive Nick Hockley. He’s standing down a...

Mar 13, 202544 min

Andy Flower on the key to coaching Kohli

Alison Mitchell, Charu Sharma and Brett Sprigg are joined by former Ashes winning head coach Andy Flower, who shares his thoughts on England’s Champions Trophy exit and who should be the next white ball captain? Flower is the head coach of Royal Challengers Bangalore, who are preparing for their 18th season in the Indian Premier League and hoping for their first ever title. He tells us what it is like coaching Virat Kohli and the influence he is having on new captain Rajat Patidar. Flower spent ...

Mar 06, 202540 min

Stumped: 500 not out!

This week is our 500th episode of Stumped. The show has been going for ten years, so Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma reflect on how the game has changed and developed over the last decade. India and New Zealand are through to the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy at the expense of Bangladesh and Pakistan. We look at where it went wrong for the hosts and celebrate India’s Virat Kohli who became the fastest player to score 14,000 One Day International runs. And after England's defe...

Feb 27, 202532 min

The secret to Alana King's success

Eleanor Oldroyd, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma discuss Pakistan's disappointing opening performance in the Champions Trophy and how that could impact their match on Sunday against India. Australia’s Alana King is often hailed for her spin bowling, but what about her exploits with the bat? We are joined by one of her club coaches Carl Sandri. Like King, Sandri also has roots in baseball, so he tells us how he has used their shared interest to improve her batting. He also tells us about his cricket...

Feb 20, 202532 min

Mumbai Indians: Jhulan Goswami and Charlotte Edwards on return of the WPL

Ahead of the third season of the Women's Premier League, Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell, and Charu Sharma hear from former England captain Charlotte Edwards and former India fast bowler Jhulan Goswami on what it’s like working together as coaches at Mumbai Indians after being great rivals in their playing days. Edwards, currently head coach at MI, also says she wants to ‘help’ English cricket and has urged the ECB to ‘get in touch’. It comes as the organisation conducts a review into the Ashes def...

Feb 13, 202545 min

'How long will you ignore Afghanistan girls?'

Alison Mitchell, Clint Wheeldon and Charu Sharma are joined by the captain of the Afghanistan women’s XI who played an exhibition match last week in Melbourne. Nahida Sapan tells us about the day itself, whether the team have felt supported and tells us her thoughts on whether she would support a boycott of Afghanistan men's matches. In a recent statement the ICC said "The ICC remains closely engaged with the situation in Afghanistan and continues to collaborate with our members,".. The governin...

Feb 06, 202538 min

Geoff Allardice resigns: What next for the ICC?

Alison Mitchell, Clint Wheeldon and Charu Sharma discuss what is next for the International Cricket Council after Geoff Allardice resigned as Chief Executive. He leaves after four years in the role in order to 'pursue other challenges'. Allardice was appointed as Chief Executive in 2021 of the ICC and during his tenure has been involved in major developments including bringing the Men's T20 World Cup to the USA and the creation of the World Test Championship. The decision comes less than two mon...

Jan 30, 202538 min

Conrad: 'Australia will be foolhardy not to respect South Africa'

Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma ask where it all went wrong for England after they lost the Women's Ashes. We ask if changes need to be made after England lost the Ashes at the earliest possible opportunity and have now lost all five matches they have played in the series. Plus we are joined by South Africa Men’s Head Coach Shukri Conrad after his side made it to the World Test Championship Final. He tells us if he thinks a two-tier system is a good idea, shares his message to the ...

Jan 23, 202536 min

Should teams boycott Afghanistan at the ICC Champions Trophy?

Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma are joined by Zimbabwe’s first black cricketer, Henry Olonga, as we ask whether boycotts work in cricket? It’s in light of political pressure on England and South Africa to pull out of their matches against Afghanistan’s men at next month's ICC Champions Trophy. It's due to the Taliban regime's oppression of women, which includes a ban on playing sport. Olonga, alongside Andy Flower, took a stand against Robert Mugabe’s regime by wearing a black armb...

Jan 16, 202538 min

The Women's Ashes: Do Australia and England have a point to prove?

Two-time Ashes winner Anya Shrubsole joins us to preview the Women’s Ashes. England will be looking to win the trophy for the first time in a decade on Australian soil. Anya tells us both teams will have a point to prove after their World Cup disappointments and she highlights the key players to look out for. The Stumped team debate whether there should there be a two-tier World Test Championship? It is being reported that the ICC are looking to make it into a two tiered competition, which would...

Jan 09, 202535 min

India under pressure heading into Border-Gavaskar trophy decider

Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma discuss the record breaking Test Match between Australia and India in Melbourne. The teams now play each other in Sydney with the series 2-1 in favour of the Australian side who will win the trophy for the first since 2015 if they avoid defeat. We debate the apparent unrest in the India dressing room and the potential retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Jim Maxwell says that the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is now bigger than the Ashes. Plus, we d...

Jan 02, 202536 min

The best of Stumped in 2024

We look back at the best of Stumped in 2024, which gives you a chance to listen to some of the standout moments from the last twelve months including our trip to New York. The USA co-hosted the Men’s T20 World Cup for the first time and we spoke to fans from around the world about how cricket can grow in America. Plus, we spoke to Bryan R Caine who is an umpire in the United States about his love of the game and how it can develop in the future. We also hear from one of the greatest batters of a...

Dec 26, 202433 min

Bowling legends R Ashwin and Tim Southee retire from international cricket

Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma discuss two international retirements after both Tim Southee and Ravichandran Ashwin hung up their bowling boots and ask how will they be remembered? Plus, after Ben Stokes suffers a reoccurrence of his hamstring injury, we look at the life of an international physio and how their workload is increasing. The Stumped team are joined on the show by Gloucestershire physiotherapist Kirk Russell, he was with the England team from 1998 until 2011 and also ...

Dec 19, 202431 min

England seal series and Border-Gavaskar Trophy perfectly poised

Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Sunil Gupta reflect on a series of firsts for the England men’s team in New Zealand. They have clinched their first away Test series win in two years and their first over the Black Caps since 2008. Plus, Gus Atkinson took his first ever Test hat-trick in the win in Wellington. Plus we ask if Harry Brook’s remarkable away record can translate to the Ashes? After things got heated between Mohammed Siraj and Travis Head in Australia, we debate passion versus profess...

Dec 12, 202433 min

Australia v India: Cricket’s biggest rivalry?

Australia versus India is a rivalry that has intensified over the years. As the two nations are currently involved in a five Test match series in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, we ask, is it now bigger than The Ashes? Alison Mitchell, Clint Wheeldon and Charu Sharma all discuss how this sporting duel has evolved with cricket writer and author Gideon Haigh. Plus, Melbourne Renegades sealed their first Big Bash title after beating Brisbane Heat in the final. We'll reflect on that historic triumph for...

Dec 05, 202438 min

IPL auction: Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Rishabh Pant make history

On this week’s Stumped with Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma, the team speak to Rajasthan Royals CEO Jake Lush McCrum about the Royals signing Jofra Archer and 13-year-old Indian cricketer Vaibhav Suryavanshi in the recent IPL auction. Lush McCrum also talks about if Rajasthan will add a Hundred franchise to their portfolio of sides. The team are joined by former Kolkata Knight Riders Team Director Joy Bhattacharjya for a wider look at the winners and losers from the IPL auction. We...

Nov 28, 202437 min

Australia's Nathan Lyon on facing India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and playing until he's 40

On this week’s Stumped with Alison Mitchell, Clint Wheeldon and Charu Sharma speak to Australian spinner Nathan Lyon as part of them previewing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy that gets underway this week between Australia and India. Lyon also speaks about how much he has learnt from playing against Ravichandran Ashwin. Also ahead of the IPL auction they interview England fast bowler Gus Atkinson. Gus is in Queenstown for England’s Test Match series away in New Zealand that gets underway next week. T...

Nov 21, 202432 min

James Anderson on personal tragedy, Virat Kohli and the IPL auction

***This clip contains discussions and references to miscarriage. If you are suffering distress or despair and need support, you could speak to a health professional, or an organisation that offers support. Details of help available in many countries can be found at Befrienders Worldwide: befrienders.org*** On this week’s Stumped with Alison Mitchell, Charu Sharma and Clint Wheeldon, the team look at what is next for the Champions Trophy after the hosts Pakistan claimed India has told the Interna...

Nov 14, 202443 min

How do India bounce back from historic Test series defeat?

On this week’s Stumped with Alison Mitchell, Charu Sharma and Brett Sprigg, former India wicketkeeper Saba Karim joins the team to discuss the fall-out from New Zealand's historic Test series win in India and what’s next for India's men as they prepare to head to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Plus, former West Indies CEO Johnny Grave tells us how a new broadcast deal could help cricket in the region and welcomes West Indies women's return to playing Test matches from 2026 as part of ...

Nov 07, 202441 min

Stumped meets Rachin Ravindra and Shan Masood

Two big names from two remarkable stories in Test cricket are on the programme. New Zealand’s men created history by securing their first ever Test series victory in India - ending India’s run of eighteen consecutive Test series wins at home over a dominant period of twelve years. Rachin Ravindra, Player of the Match from the opening Test of the series, tells Alison there is nothing like a Test win for your country, how he was inspired by the ‘golden generation’ of New Zealand cricket - and his ...

Oct 31, 202442 min

A song of experience - New Zealand's World Cup winning formula

On this week's Stumped, Alison Mitchell, Clint Wheeldon and Charu Sharma speak with World Cup winner Maddy Green, who celebrated her 32nd birthday on the day of the final. She tells us what New Zealand’s victory means to the country, as well as discussing how they defied expectations to triumph in Dubai. We reflect on how the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup was won, pick out the most memorable moments from the tournament and discuss cricket's omission from the 2026 Commonwealth Games, despite having f...

Oct 24, 202434 min

Abtaha Maqsood on a first World Cup, Shane Warne and representation

As India and England fail to reach the last four of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, the inquest into their exit begins. Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma discuss where it all went wrong, and ask if anyone can stop Australia defending their title. Scotland returned from their first ICC Women’s T20 World Cup and leg spinner Abtaha Maqsood joins the team to talk about her experience of playing in the tournament for the first time, what she’s been able to learn from facing the top-ranked ...

Oct 17, 202433 min

Will Bangladesh reap rewards despite not hosting ICC Women’s T20 World Cup?

Alison Mitchell is alongside Charu Sharma and Jim Maxwell to discuss the effects on women’s cricket in Bangladesh, with the country not hosting the Women’s ICC T20 World Cup. Bangladesh cricket writer Tawhid Qureshi gives his thoughts on how the domestic game in Bangladesh would have benefited from the spotlight that hosting a World Cup brings, and how Bangladeshi players need more pathways to the professional game. Ali, Jim & Charu reflect on Joe Root becoming England’s men’s leading run-sc...

Oct 10, 202437 min

Jason Gillespie on putting faith in his Pakistan players

Alison Mitchell is alongside Charu Sharma and Jim Maxwell to discuss Pakistan hosting England in a three-test series, which begins on 7 October. Alison speaks to Pakistan red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie ahead of the series with the new coach looking to turn around Pakistan’s fortunes, with just two wins in their last thirteen Tests. He talks about wanting to instill belief in his squad, as well as managing his captain Shan Masood and improving the squad’s fitness. Plus, Ali, Jim & Charu ...

Oct 03, 202437 min

Deandra Dottin on her West Indies comeback and T20 World Cup hopes

We are less than a week away from the start of the Women's T20 World Cup. Defending champions Australia are aiming to make it four wins in a row. West Indies were the last nation to lift the World Cup before Australia embarked on their era of dominance. We speak to all rounder Deandra Dottin who was part of the 2016 West Indies World Cup winning team and she explains her reasons for reversing her international retirement ahead of the tournament. Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma also...

Sep 26, 202435 min

Johan Botha: The international captain turned ultramarathon running cricket coach

Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma speak to the international captain turned Ultramarathon running cricket coach, Johan Botha, on his passion for endurance running. The team also discuss India batter Yashasvi Jaiswal who is chasing history in the World Test Championship. Plus, Ireland captain Gaby Lewis joins us on the programme to reflect on their historic victories over England. Photo Credit: Johan Botha image four, Bridgetown, Barbados 8th May, Johan Botha of South Africa celebrate...

Sep 19, 202439 min

India’s Rishabh Pant returns to Test cricket two years on from his life threatening car accident

Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma discuss India’s men’s Test squad for the upcoming series against Bangladesh and in particular the return of Rishabh Pant. The wicketkeeper batter has been named in the Test squad for the first time since his serious car accident in December 2022. There’s also a maiden Test call-up for left-arm fast bowler Yash Dayal. Ahead of the Women’s T20 World Cup, Australia all-rounder Sophie Molineux tells Charlotte Swift she had a tear in her eye after making ...

Sep 12, 202436 min

Shahriar Nafees on Bangladesh’s ‘biggest’ achievement in Test cricket

Shahriar Nafees joins us following Bangladesh men’s historic Test-series win in Pakistan. The former Bangladesh opener, who is now Head of Operations at the Bangladesh Cricket Board, believes the series win is his country's biggest ever achievement in Test cricket. Alison Mitchell, Clint Wheeldon and Sunil Gupta also reflect on the news that England Test coach Brendon McCullum will combine Test and white-ball coaching duties from January. They discuss how he may revitalise the side and discuss w...

Sep 05, 202436 min