On this week's Stumped, Alison Mitchell, Charu Sharma and Jim Maxwell examine the fallout from the racism scandal which has engulfed Yorkshire County Cricket Club and the sport over the last few weeks. The team speak with John Mehrzad QC, who has been involved in conducting independent reviews in sport, to find out what is best practice when it comes to dealing with complaints of racism or harassment in sports organisations. Mehrzad was the only lawyer on the cultural review of British Cycling, ...
Nov 11, 2021•34 min
Alison Mitchell, Charu Sharma and Jim Maxwell debate where it has gone wrong for India in the men’s T20 World Cup, if South Africa are peaking at the right time and whether England or Pakistan are the tournament favourites. Plus we are joined by the General Manager of the Big Bash Leagues in Australia, Alistair Dobson. He tells us how Covid has impacted the WBBL, the significance of having Indian players in the competition and how preparations are going for the men’s Big Bash League beginning ne...
Nov 04, 2021•38 min
We are joined by England Ashes winning coach Andy Flower who is now Afghanistan consultant for the Men’s T20 World Cup. He tells us about the pride that the Afghanistan players have to play for their country and his reason for wanting to be involved with the team. He also tells us his hopes to coach an IPL team in the future and gives his predictions on how the men's Ashes will play out with Ben Stokes back in contention. Plus Alison Mitchell, Charu Sharma and Jim Maxwell discuss the main talkin...
Oct 28, 2021•37 min
On this week’s episode, Alison Mitchell, Sunil Gupta and Jim Maxwell react to the speculation that Indian legend Rahul Dravid looks set to replace Ravi Shastri as head coach of the national team after the T20 World Cup and discuss what Shastri’s legacy will be. Plus in the wake of comments made by India all-rounder Hardik Pandya about how money is extremely important for pushing a player to succeed in professional cricket, the team discuss the role of money as motivation. With the Men’s T20 Worl...
Oct 21, 2021•35 min
We discuss the finale of the Indian Premier League and after Virat Kohli played his last game as captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore, the team look at how his tenure as captain will be remembered. We speak to the Chairman of Oman Cricket, Pankaj Khimji who tells us how he feels about hosting the T20 World Cup, how the country has prepared and his predictions on how far his team can go. And as part of Black History Month in the UK, we hear how the African Caribbean Engagement programme (ACE) i...
Oct 14, 2021•34 min
South Africa and Delhi Capitals’ fast bowler Kagiso Rabada has told BBC Stumped that ‘bio-bubbles aren’t sustainable’ in world cricket and something must change. Rabada, who made his IPL debut four years ago as a 22-year-old, has risen to become one of the most successful bowlers in world cricket and a role model for young South Africans. He joined Alison Mitchell, Sunil Gupta and Jim Maxwell to discuss his development as a player, what it’s like to be coached by Ricky Pointing and his hopes of ...
Oct 07, 2021•35 min
Alison Mitchell, Sunil Gupta and Jim Maxwell speak with incoming Marylebone Cricket Club president Clare Connor about becoming the first woman to take up the role in the 233-year history of the club. She discusses her hopes of using her one-year term to modernise the club to ensure better gender parity. Connor also remains the managing director of women’s cricket at the ECB, and discusses the “unbelievably disappointing” cancellation of England joint men’s & women’s tour of Pakistan which sh...
Sep 30, 2021•37 min
We discuss the fallout from England withdrawing their men and women from their October tour to Pakistan and what consequences it could have for international cricket. We talk about Virat Kohli's decision to step down as Captain of India's T20 side and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League. We also hear why boycotting Afghanistan cricket might not be the best option for women's cricket in the country in the second part of our interview with Tuba Sangar, the former women's devel...
Sep 23, 2021•39 min
On this week’s episode, Alison Mitchell, Charu Sharma and Jim Maxwell hear from Tuba Sangar, who up until just a couple of weeks ago was the women's development manager for the Afghanistan Cricket Board. She tells the team about her fears for the safety of her players, the future of women’s cricket in Afghanistan, and what it was like leaving her home and her job behind. They also speak with Punjab Kings and Australia bowler Nathan Ellis, whose remarkable two-year journey from playing club crick...
Sep 16, 2021•44 min
We discuss the latest on what the future might hold for cricket in Afghanistan after speculation over whether the women's team will be able to play under the new government. We also find out how some refugees from the country are being made to feel welcome in the UK thanks to a cricket match organised by Newport Pagnell Town Cricket Club. Plus we reflect on the Test series between England and India, and discuss MS Dhoni's role as a mentor for the India T20 World Cup squad. And we learn more abou...
Sep 09, 2021•39 min
Isabelle Westbury, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma hear from former Australia bowler Michael Kasprowicz who has been involved in developing the SmartBall, which measures speed, spin and power and is currently being trialled in the Caribbean Premier League. We ask what the players make of it so far and when we could see it being used more widely across international competitions. We find out more about Brazil's ambitions to qualify for the Women's T20 World Cup in 2023 with their captain Roberta Mor...
Sep 02, 2021•41 min
We're joined by the head of The Hundred women's competition, Beth Barrett-Wild to discuss its success and what's next for the tournament. With all eyes on the third Test between England and India, we find out more about the Pataudi trophy they're competing for, named after one of the biggest stars in the history of Indian cricket. And we look at the latest situation for Afghanistan's cricketers. PHOTO: The Oval Invincibles celebrate victory with the trophy after The Hundred Final match between S...
Aug 26, 2021•39 min
Afghanistan bowler Naveen-ul-Haq discusses the ongoing political situation in his home country, what the future holds for the national team and whether they will compete at the Twenty20 World Cup in October. We hear how the Afghan Cricket Association, which normally supports players in the UK, has redirected its efforts to providing emergency aid. Plus, we reflect on India’s win over England in the second Test, discuss the T20 World Cup draw and look ahead to the final Test between West Indies a...
Aug 19, 2021•44 min
Ian Watmore, ECB Chair and head of the International Cricket Council's Olympic working group, joins us to talk about the bid for the sport to be included at Los Angeles 2028 and the beginning of the Hundred. Alison Mitchell, Charu Sharma and Jim Maxwell discuss the injuries affecting England's bowling options heading into the second Test against India And we'll hear how the inaugural British Gorkhali League is promoting cricket amongst British Nepalese players. Photo: The torch is lit at the Los...
Aug 12, 2021•38 min
We speak to former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori about his coaching career, including his current role in The Hundred, and about mental health in cricket following Ben Stokes' announcement that he's taking an 'indefinite' break from the sport. Plus, we hear from the women's team in Barcelona which has run a successful campaign to create the city's first cricket pitch. PHOTO: Spin Bowling Coach Daniel Vettori takes part in warm ups during game one of the International T20 series between New ...
Aug 05, 2021•36 min
We speak to South Africa's all time leading wicket taker and one of the fastest female bowlers in world, Shabnim Ismail, as we discuss whether the 80 miles per hour women's bowling record could be broken soon. Plus, we'll look at the concerns over this winter's Ashes, and India's injury list ahead of the Test series with England. Photo: Shabnim Ismail of South Africa bowls during the ICC Women's T20 Cricket World Cup match between South Africa and Pakistan at Sydney Showgrounds (Credit:Getty Ima...
Jul 29, 2021•37 min
On this week’s Stumped, Alison Mitchell, Charu Sharma and Jim Maxwell are joined by Oval Invincibles and England T20 bowler Tash Farrant. Farrant featured in the inaugural match of The Hundred, as the competition finally got underway a year later than originally planned. We discuss the new format, how well it worked and how it's helping towards gender equality in the sport. And we hear from the 11-year-old boy who's been given a new lease of cricketing life - all thanks to a special set of glass...
Jul 22, 2021•38 min
On this week’s Stumped with Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma, West Indies great Michael Holding discusses his powerful speech about racial injustice which went viral last year. He speaks about his own experiences of racism, reacts to the social media abuse aimed at some of England’s footballers at the European Championships this week and discusses his new book 'Why We Kneel, How We Rise,' and whether it’s easier now for sports men and women to use their platform for change. And with...
Jul 15, 2021•37 min
On this week's Stumped, Alison Mitchell, Charu Sharma and Jim Maxwell discuss the fallout after the entire England ODI squad was forced into quarantine after a number of players and staff tested positive. An entire new playing and coaching team was named just days before their one-day series against Pakistan. We also hear from the Northern Diamonds and Yorkshire bowler Katie Levick, who shares her first-hand experience of dealing with the consequences of suspected long Covid. She was left unable...
Jul 08, 2021•36 min
On this week's Stumped, we'll speak to the Chief Executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board Wasim Khan who outlines Pakistan's hopes of co-hosting the cricket World Cup in 2027 and 2031. We'll also discuss the T20 World Cup being moved from India to the UAE. And we'll hear from Australia All rounder Ashleigh Gardner who's looking forward to the much anticipated one off Test Match against India, taking place at the Waca later this year. Photo: Pakistan Cricket Board CEO Wasim Khan addresses the medi...
Jul 01, 2021•36 min
On this week's Stumped we hear from former Sri Lanka cricket captain Kumar Sangakkara who says since winning the World Cup in 1996, their players been held back by administrative upheaval and archaic systems where everyone is extremely resistant to change. Sangakarra who was this month inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, believes his country have now been surpassed by other cricketing nations and now is the ‘time to draw a line and say it’s enough’. Plus we debate the pros and cons of the format...
Jun 24, 2021•35 min
Stuart Broad has urged the ICC to review the use of soft signals after New Zealand opener Devon Conway controversially survived a claimed catch by Zak Crawley. This follows comments from India Captain Virat Kohli on DRS where he says 'umpire's call creates a lot of confusion'. The Stumped team debate whether there is still a need in the game for soft signals or whether umpires should rely solely on technology. Plus India and England are playing in a Test Match against each other for the first ti...
Jun 17, 2021•40 min
We discuss the latest developments following the suspension of England bowler Ollie Robinson and ask how diverse is English cricket? We’ll hear from the now permanent CEO of Cricket Australia Nick Hockley. He tells us more about whether English fans will be likely to attend the Ashes in Australia, whether Australian players will be playing in the IPL and their selection for The Hundred. And we hear from Australia Women’s World Cup winner Megan Schutt on reciprocal IVF after announcing that her w...
Jun 10, 2021•37 min
We consider the fallout from the controversial historic tweets sent by England's Ollie Robinson when the bowler was much younger. Plus following tennis player's Naomi Osaka's withdrawal from the French Open, we discuss mental health and the relationship between the media and elite sports. And we hear from England women's wicket-keeper Amy Jones on how the team are preparing for their upcoming series against India. Photo: David Warner of Australia laughs as a camera man fall over during the victo...
Jun 03, 2021•38 min
On this week’s episode, Alison Mitchell, Charu Sharma and Jim Maxwell speak at length to one of the brightest stars of women's cricket - the India and Mumbai all-rounder Jemimah Rodrigues. Plus, we'll hear from the former England all-rounder Arran Brindle and her 12-year-old son Harry who have made history this week by becoming the first mother and son to score a century partnership in a men's club match. Photo: Jemimah Rodrigues of India leaves the field after being dismissed during the ICC Wom...
May 27, 2021•28 min
Sandpaper Gate has again become the talk of the cricketing world since fresh revelations by Australian batsman Cameron Bancroft. Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma discuss if it will ever be forgotten? Plus we hear from 21 year old New Zealand cricketer Rachin Ravindra. He discusses the prospect of making his international debut, his Indian heritage and the support of his family. And the team are joined by author Rob Eastaway who has decided to channel the royalties from his latest bo...
May 20, 2021•41 min
Are bamboo bats the future of cricket? We hear from former Thailand Under 19’s player, Doctor Darshil Shah who has co-authored some research outlining the benefits of using bamboo instead of willow. Plus we are joined by Ireland captain Laura Delany who looks ahead to their upcoming series against Scotland after 18 months without an international match. The team also discuss the India squad announcement ahead of their upcoming tour of England, BJ Watling's retirement and Pakistan's new parental ...
May 13, 2021•38 min
On this week's Stumped podcast Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma discuss the suspension of the IPL. They ask whether the decision has to come too later and debate what will happen next for cricket in India. Plus the team are joined by Alex Marshall, the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit General Manager. He tells us what they do to tackle corruption and how convicted cricketers are helped following a ban. We hear from Scottish cricketer Abtaha Maqsood on Ramadan, wearing a Hijab and preparing ...
May 06, 2021•30 min
Alison Mitchell, Charu Sharma and Alister Nicholson are joined by the General Manager of cricket operations at the BCCI, Dhiraj Malhotra. He gives us the latest on where the IPL stands and whether the competition should be halted or is a welcomed distraction. The team also hear from former Rajasthan Royals and Australia bowler AJ Tye, who tells the team why he felt it necessary to leave the IPL midway through the tournament and how bubble life left him feeling as though he had lost touch with th...
Apr 29, 2021•38 min
Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma are joined by the number one ranked T20 player in the World Dawid Malan. He discusses his first season in the Indian Premier League after he was chosen by the Punjab Kings, what life is like in the many bio-bubbles that he has experienced and if the IPL is different to what he expected. Plus they discuss the process of team selection after England abolished the role of chief selector which they have been using for over 100 years. Photo: Dawid Malan o...
Apr 22, 2021•35 min
