On this week’s Stumped, our very own Charu Sharma flies out to Mumbai to visit some of the game’s biggest stars as the inaugural Women’s Premier League reaches its finale. First up is Australia captain Meg Lanning, who has just led the Delhi Capitals to the first ever WPL final. She tells us that the competition is “on another level” to anything else she’s experienced, and discusses her five-month break from sport in which she worked in a café. Charu then catches up with India all-rounder Shikha...
Mar 23, 2023•39 min
We speak to Afghanistan women’s cricketer Firooza Afghan who fled the country following the takeover of the Taliban in 2021 and now resides in Melbourne, Australia. The 18-year-old, says the team have not yet received any support from the International Cricket Council and hopes that they will take action to enable them to represent Afghanistan from their base in Australia. After scoring his first Test century since November 2019, is Virat Kohli finally returning to form? The former India captain...
Mar 16, 2023•31 min
The Women’s Premier League is finally underway. Sunil Gupta tells us what it is like in India, the stand out stars and the team discuss the tournament so far. Plus will the final Test match between India and Australia is underway. Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was in attendance alongside India’s prime minister Narendra Modi who took part in a series of events before the Test. The team debate the pageantry and whether the World Test Championship is making Test Matches shorter. And we ...
Mar 09, 2023•28 min
On this week’s episode of Stumped, Jim Maxwell tells us that he believes England would not enforce a follow-on against Australia in the Ashes. England became only the second national side ever to lose a Test match having enforced the follow-on, as New Zealand won by a single run in Wellington to draw the two-match series. Would they Brendon McCullum's side be as bold against their great rivals in an Ashes series? Charu Sharma dismisses Alyssa Healy’s claims that Harmanpreet Kaur’s run-out in Ind...
Mar 02, 2023•35 min
India have retained the Border-Gavaskar trophy after thrashing Australia in the first two Tests of the series. Jim Maxwell tells Alison Mitchell where it all went wrong for the tourists, as their attempts to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy end in premature failure. Elsewhere in India, the chairman of their national selection committee has resigned following a sting operation by a local television channel. We discuss Chetan Sharma being caught on camera talking about the likes of Virat Kohli a...
Feb 23, 2023•37 min
In a momentous week in women’s cricket when the Women’s Premier League Auction took place Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma discuss the big signings and the players that were unsold. Plus we are joined by Ben Gibson who is the Director of Financial Planning at UK based Wealth Management business Evelyn. He tells us how players should manage their newfound wealth. And we discuss where it has all gone wrong for New Zealand in the Women's T20 World Cup. Photo: Smriti Mandhana and Harman...
Feb 16, 2023•33 min
On this week’s episode of Stumped, R Sridhar takes us into the heart of the India dressing room. The former fielding coach for the men’s national side worked alongside the likes of Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni and Ravi Shastri between 2014 and 2021 and in his new book, ‘Coaching Beyond: My Days with the India Cricket Team’, he reveals details of conversations between the trio which have never previously been reported. He tells us about Shastri’s integrity as head coach, Kohli’s unbeatable work rate as ...
Feb 09, 2023•34 min
India beat England by seven wickets in an exciting one-sided final held in South Africa to clinch their first world title. Could India winning the Under 19 World Cup be a landmark moment in the women's game? Alison Mitchell, Charu Sharma and Jim Maxwell all reflect on India's success. Kim Garth has played in two World Cups for Ireland but in 2020, she quit the country to pursue her dream of playing professional cricket in Australia – Kim joins us on the programme to discuss her move and how she'...
Feb 02, 2023•36 min
On this week’s episode of Stumped, Pakistan batsman Tayyab Tahir joins Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma to discuss his first call-up to the men’s national side, which he found out about when his name was read out on television. He impressed as a substitute in their One Day International series with New Zealand and is now gearing up for a debut stint in the Pakistan Super League with Karachi Kings. He tells us about his three years playing club cricket in England and sharing a dressi...
Jan 26, 2023•31 min
On this week’s episode of Stumped, Shukri Conrad joins Eleanor Oldroyd, Jim Maxwell and Sunil Gupta for his first interview since being appointed as the coach of South Africa men’s Test side. It’s been a disappointing period for the Proteas after heavy defeats in Australia and England, and Conrad admits that it’s not going to be easy to fix their issues. We discuss their batting frailties, whether Dean Elgar will remain as captain, and we pay tribute to legendary batsman Hashim Amla after he ann...
Jan 19, 2023•28 min
Former Australia captain Belinda Clark joins Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma after a statue was unveiled of her at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the first of any female cricketer in the world. She gives her thoughts on the current state of the women’s game, including Meg Lanning’s return to the Australia side after a five month break, and the upcoming inaugural women’s edition of the Indian Premier League. With just months to go until the start of the Women’s IPL, uncertainty remains ...
Jan 12, 2023•29 min
Alison Mitchell and Jim Maxwell are at the Sydney Cricket Ground as Australia take on South Africa in their third and final Test Match of the series. They are joined by Sunil Gupta and debate how cricket should tackle the problem of bad light and ask whether a pink ball should be used? Jim is also full of praise for Steve Smith who has now scored 30 Test centuries to surpass Sir Donald Bradman. The team discuss the player's that hit the headlines and the stars that missed out at the Indian Premi...
Jan 05, 2023•31 min
Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma take a look back at the best of Stumped in 2022. The show features an interview with former Australian wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist on his dear friend Shane Warne who died in March 2022. He shares his memories of playing alongside him and what made Warne such a special player and person. Plus we hear from the stand out star of the English Men's Test Summer, Jonny Bairstow. We go back to the morning of the 24th of February. This was the day Russia inv...
Dec 27, 2022•40 min
Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma are joined by Adelaide Strikers Head Coach Jason Gillespie. His side created history by bowling out Sydney Thunder for just 15 runs in the Big Bash. He discusses the future of the BBL and the growth of T20 cricket around the world. He also tells us how he thinks England men will get on in next year's Ashes, pays tribute to his dear friend Shane Warne and shares who inspires him the most as a coach. Plus we discuss the incredible Test debut of England...
Dec 22, 2022•33 min
Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma discuss which Test side should be the most confident going into 2023 and who should be the most worried. South Africa sit second in the table with Sri Lanka third but have England left it too late to make it to the final? They sit in fifth. The team talk about England winning their first Test series in Pakistan since 2001, Australia beating the West Indies and the first day of the first Test Match between Bangladesh and India. After India women infli...
Dec 15, 2022•33 min
Alison Mitchell and Jim Maxwell are in Adelaide where Australia are taking on the West Indies in their second and final Test Match of the series. Tagenarine Chanderpaul made his Test debut for the West Indies last week scoring a maiden half century following in his father's footsteps. Sunil Gupta has spoken to his father, the legendary Shivnarine Chanderpaul on what it was like to witness this. They both share the same unique stance at the crease and Shivnarine tells us how that came about. Plus...
Dec 08, 2022•37 min
The Men's Australian Summer has begun with a Test Match against the West Indies. Alison Mitchell and Jim Maxwell have watched the first two days including two double centuries from Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith. Plus the tell us about the confident debut from Tagenarine Chanderpaul, the son of legend Shivnarine Chanderpaul. England have returned to Pakistan to play a Test Match series for the first time in 17 years, but after four centuries were scored on day one, we discuss whether it was ...
Dec 01, 2022•32 min
Alison Mitchell, Geoff Lemon and Sunil Gupta are joined by England women’s captain Heather Knight to preview their tour to the Caribbean and discuss her comeback from injury. She tells us about meeting their new coach, Jon Lewis. The Hundred will return for its third season with the first women's player draft in a major UK sport. the team debate whether this is a step forward in the women’s game. And Suryakumar Yadav has been stealing the headlines after hitting 111 in just 51 balls against New ...
Nov 24, 2022•30 min
Alison Mitchell, Brett Sprigg and Charu Sharma reflect on England winning the Men’s T20 World Cup and speak to World Cup winner Tymal Mills. Plus we discuss Pakistan’s disappointment and ask where it has all gone wrong for India? And Alison Mitchell will be speaking to England 50 over World Cup winner Liam Plunkett about the launch of Major League Cricket in America as he signs up to play in the league which begins next year. Plus the team debate what is better, white ball or red ball only contr...
Nov 17, 2022•35 min
Alison Mitchell, Charu Sharma and Jim Maxwell reflect on Pakistan’s journey to the final of the Men’s T20 World Cup. We are joined by Netherlands coach Ryan Cook who tells us about their victory over South Africa. It was a win which had a huge impact on the tournament as a whole, and it also guaranteed the Dutch their place at the next T20 World Cup in 2024. Jim Maxwell also gives his thoughts on Australia's exit from the T20 World Cup. Image: Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam of Pakistan celebrate...
Nov 10, 2022•33 min
Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Sunil Gupta are joined by one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time and former captain of Pakistan, Wasim Akram. He speaks to us about his autobiography discussing the highlights of his career, plus detailing his cocaine addiction and his time in rehab. Wasim also addressed allegations of match-fixing during his career again denying any involvement in corruption. In 2000, Pakistan players Saleem Malik and Ata-ur-Rehman were banned for match-fixing. A report in...
Nov 03, 2022•30 min
Has there ever been a better T20 match than the one between India and Pakistan? Jim Maxwell reckons it was “the greatest sporting event ever staged on neutral territory”. We'll reflect on the T20 World Cup match that had it all, as India registered another win over their great rivals, thanks to Virat Kohli's brilliance. Alison Mitchell and Charu Sharma also discuss England's shock loss to Ireland, as well as Marcus Stoinis' match-winning knock for Australia. Plus we're joined by the first black ...
Oct 27, 2022•34 min
On this week’s episode of Stumped, should cricket care where its funding comes from? The International Cricket Council have announced a partnership with a Saudi state-owned oil company, raising issues of both sustainability and an association with a country that has a poor human rights record. Alison Mitchell finds out more from the BBC’s Sports Editor, Dan Roan. Elsewhere, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma discuss the stand-off between India and Pakistan, which could see the latter boycott next year...
Oct 20, 2022•33 min
It’s been an incredible turnaround for Josh Hazlewood. Between March 2016 and September 2020, the fast bowler did not play in a T20 match for Australia. Now, ahead of the start of this year’s T20 World Cup, Hazlewood is ranked as the world’s best T20 bowler. He sits down with Alison Mitchell to discuss his rise to the top and the impact of the Indian Premier League on his career. We also preview the start of the tournament, which gets under way in Australia this weekend. Will the hosts retain th...
Oct 13, 2022•35 min
On this week’s Stumped, Alison Mitchell speaks to England cricketer Jonny Bairstow about the highs and lows of 2022. The batter has been ruled out of this month’s T20 World Cup after breaking his leg in a golfing accident, but has just been awarded the Bob Willis Trophy, which is given to England’s best cricketer each year. Jim Maxwell and Sunil Gupta discuss another star who won't be at the World Cup, India’s Jasprit Bumrah. The fast bowler will miss the tournament with a back injury, but is Ra...
Oct 06, 2022•32 min
Which side are you on? In the eyes of many, it is seen as unsporting manner despite being perfectly within the laws of cricket, is a run out at the non striker end deemed acceptable? Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma all discuss the controversy surrounding England's third One Day International against India. After leading Australia to gold at this year's Commonwealth Games, Shelley Nitschke has been appointed Head Coach on a permanent basis. Shelley joins us on the programme to discu...
Sep 29, 2022•32 min
On this week’s Stumped with Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma, we speak to a journalist staying in England’s team hotel during their first tour of Pakistan for 17 years. Nick Hoult, the chief cricket correspondent for the Telegraph, shares his experience of watching England’s win in Karachi with security armed with sniper rifles surrounding the press box. We also discuss the inaugural auction for Cricket South Africa's SA20 league and ask whether the inexperienced Tristan Stubbs is w...
Sep 22, 2022•30 min
On this week’s episode of Stumped with Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma, we remember Queen Elizabeth II, the UK's longest-serving monarch, who died at Balmoral aged 96, after reigning for 70 years. We hear from the former England captain Charlotte Edwards, who shares her memories of meeting Her Majesty the Queen and how she taught the Queen all about the decision review system. Former Indian wicket-keeper Farokh Engineer also tells us his unique experience of when the Queen revealed...
Sep 15, 2022•26 min
On this week’s episode of Stumped with Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma, we react to Zimbabwe’s shock win over Australia. It’s the first time that they have beaten Australia on their own soil. We speak to Zimbabwe’s man of the match Ryan Burl, who took five wickets for just ten runs. We’re also joined by England bowler Mark Wood ahead of the release of his self-help book, The Wood Life! The team get a few life lessons from the man who England’s Test captain Ben Stokes describes as a...
Sep 08, 2022•36 min
On this week's Stumped with Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Sunil Gupta, we speak to the former South Africa captain and commissioner of the new SA20 league, Graeme Smith. Smith says he hopes that the league will become the second best league in the world behind the Indian Premier League, and says that despite all six of the teams being owned by IPL franchise owners, the league is open for Pakistani cricketers to participate in. Plus, our very own Charu Sharma sends us a message from his trip t...
Sep 01, 2022•34 min
