Stumped

By BBC World Service

What's Stumped about?

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

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Stumped episodes:

04.25.2024
From Australia to New York: The World Cup pitches travelling 17,000 kilometres
Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma debate who should be India's wicketkeeper for the Men's T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and America. India have potentially seven options who could take the gloves. Rishabh Pant is the frontrunner after...
04.18.2024
What is the best way to prepare for a Cricket World Cup?
With less than fifty days to go until the Men's T20 World Cup, Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma look at how some of the twenty teams are shaping up and ask what is the best way for players...
04.11.2024
Who is the toughest player in men's cricket?
Charu Sharma, Jim Maxwell and Nikesh Rughani are joined by Richard Sydenham who has written a book exploring what makes a cricketer tough and the physical and psychological aspects of it. He shares the stories from former players and what...
04.04.2024
David Wiese: Franchise cricket is nearing saturation point
Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma are joined by globetrotter and franchise cricket extraordinaire David Wiese. He has played in no fewer than ten different franchise cricket tournaments around the world and tells us how the different leagues compare....
03.28.2024
Marais Erasmus: My life as an international umpire
Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma debate the new rule in the Indian Premier League which allows two bouncers to be bowled in an over. They look at whether this rule is too bowler friendly and how this will...
03.21.2024
IPL: Scouting India's next star
Royal Challengers Bangalore claimed their first Women’s Premier League title after beating Delhi Capitals in the final. We speak to former England captain Charlotte Edwards who won the tournament last year with Mumbai Indians. Alison Mitchell, Charu Sharma...
03.14.2024
Jimmy Anderson: The David Bowie of cricket
Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Sunil Gupta celebrate England fast bowler Jimmy Anderson. Anderson has become the first fast bowler to take 700 Test wickets and reached the milestone in 187 Tests. He is only the third bowler in all...
03.07.2024
Does cricket need a two-tier World Test Championship?
Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma discuss the retirement of New Zealand's Neil Wagner after his former teammate Ross Taylor said his retirement was 'forced'. Plus the team try and decipher why Australia and New Zealand play so few...
02.29.2024
Japanese Cricket Icon: Shizuka Miyaji
Charu Sharma, Brett Sprigg and Nikesh Rughani all reflect on the Test series which has seen India continue their fine unbeaten home run and we ask if Shoaib Bashir has a bright future as he shines for England. We also...
02.22.2024
The WPL and the Bucket Hat Cult
Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma all preview the second edition of The Women's Premier League. We discuss which players to look out for and whether Mumbai Indians can defend their title. We also assess India's chances of...
02.15.2024
Australia's Mitchell Marsh on the power of talking
Mitchell Marsh has had an extraordinary couple of years from being recalled to the Australia Test team, winning the 50 over World Cup and being named T20 captain. Marsh has been telling Alison Mitchell how he got involved with a...
02.08.2024
Jaiswal: India's next 'legend'?
Yashasvi Jaiswal became the third youngest player from India to score a Test double century at the age of 22. With the series against England finely poised at 1-1, we hear from Jaiswal’s childhood coach Jwala Singh. Alison Mitchell, Jim...
02.01.2024
Kevin Sinclair on backflips and West Indies historic win
West Indies all-rounder Kevin Sinclair tells Alison Mitchell that Test cricket will live for "a very long time. We have an in depth interview with Kevin on the programme after West Indies won a Test in Australia for the first...
01.25.2024
Saumy Pandey: India’s Junior Jadeja
With the rising stars of the cricketing world showcasing their talent at the Under 19's World Cup in South Africa, we ask, can India's youngsters retain their title? Hear from vice captain Saumy Pandey who is often compared to Ravindra...
01.18.2024
Super Shamar Joseph
Eleanor Oldroyd, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma all react to West Indies fast bowler Shamar Joseph's dream debut in Test cricket. Joseph struck gold with his very first delivery, claiming the wicket of Steve Smith who was opening for Australia...
01.11.2024
Ellyse Perry: Greatest female cricketer we've ever seen
Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma all react to Ellyse Perry's historic achievement of reaching 300 caps for Australia during the Twenty20 series victory over India. After all the hype and speculation, we'll also discuss Steve Smith replacing David...
01.04.2024
How to save Test cricket?
Alison Mitchell and Jim Maxwell are in Sydney for David Warner's final Test match for Australia before he retires. They discuss who will replace him as opener and Charu Sharma tells us if he thinks Warner is the best Australian...
12.28.2023
The Best of Stumped in 2023
Please note: This programme contains discussions about alcoholism and references to mental health. 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...
12.21.2023
Jim Maxwell: Celebrating 50 years of Australia's 'Voice of Summer'
Stumped's Jim Maxwell has been a part of ABC for 50 years. He joined the organisation at the age of 22 in 1973 as a trainee and has now commentated on over 300 Test matches. Jim shares how he started...
12.14.2023
David Warner: Answering his critics?
Alison Mitchell and Jim Maxwell are in Perth as Australia take on Pakistan in the opening Test match of the Australian Summer. They are joined by Sunil Gupta from New Delhi and discuss David Warner's 164 in his final series...
12.07.2023
WBBL winner: 'I taught myself how to bowl spin'
Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma are joined by Zimbabwe’s Anesu Mushangwe who has just won the Women's Big Bash League with the Adelaide Strikers. She became the first player from Zimbabwe to win the title and tells us...
11.30.2023
The WBBL final: Will Adelaide Strikers dominate?
Charu Sharma, Jim Maxwell and Nikesh Rughani preview the Women’s Big Bash League final. They discuss the dominance of the Adelaide Strikers captained by Australia all-rounder Tahlia McGrath who have won 11 out of 14 matches. They will be playing...
11.24.2023
Australia captain Pat Cummins is a 'special human being'
Alison Mitchell, Brett Sprigg and Sunil Gupta look back at the Men’s 50 Over World Cup final and debate if Travis Head will be the next superstar of Australian cricket. He sits amongst legends Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist as...
11.16.2023
Will Virat Kohli help India win the World Cup?
Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma discuss Virat Kohli's World Cup record breaking semi-final performance. Kohli helped India reach the final by becoming the first player to score fifty One Day international centuries, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar's record. They also...
11.09.2023
ICC's Geoff Allardice discusses the latest on Afghanistan women's cricket
Alison Mitchell is joined by the Chief Executive of the ICC, Geoff Allardice. He is challenged on the plight of the Afghanistan women’s cricket team who fled the country when the Taliban regained control in 2021. Allardice also tells us...
11.02.2023
Meet the first female coach in the Pakistan Super League
Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Sunil Gupta are joined by Catherine Dalton who is the first female coach in the Pakistan Super League. She will also be the first female fast bowling coach of any professional men’s team when she...
10.30.2023
Afghanistan's secret to success
Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Sunil Gupta are joined by Afghanistan assistant coach Raees Ahmadzai. He was part of the Afghanistan team that progressed to the 2009 ICC World Cup Qualifiers. In 2010 he retired from playing and took up...
10.26.2023
Afghanistan's secret to success
Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Sunil Gupta are joined by Afghanistan assistant coach Raees Ahmadzai. He was part of the Afghanistan team that progressed to the 2009 ICC World Cup Qualifiers. In 2010 he retired from playing and took...
10.19.2023
Sinalo Jafta on alcoholism, rehab and recovery
Please note: This programme contains discussions about alcoholism and references to mental health. 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...
10.12.2023
India World Cup: ‘This is your Bollywood movie’
How do you mentally prepare to win the Cricket World Cup? Alison Mitchell, Sunil Gupta and Jim Maxwell speak with the man who helped mastermind India’s 2011 World Cup victory on home soil – Paddy Upton. The mental conditioning coach...
10.05.2023
World Cup fever, proud Dutchman and Gandhi's cricket connections
Over the next 46 days, the sport's biggest tournament will showcase the world's top ten 50-over teams and with India starting their campaign against Australia, Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Sunil Gupta all look ahead to the mouthwatering clash. ...
09.28.2023
India’s first gold medal and Pakistan’s trailblazing captain Nida Dar
Pakistan’s Nida Dar discusses her incredible year. The 36-year-old has become captain of the Pakistan Women's team, made her 100th ODI appearance for her country and broke into the top ten of the ICC All Rounder rankings. She tells Stumped...
09.21.2023
De Kock on retirement, taking the knee and unfinished business
Stumped’s Alison Mitchell is joined by South Africa's wicketkeeper Quinton De Kock to discuss why he has decided to retire from one day cricket after the upcoming Cricket World Cup. Plus he explains why he likes to avoid being...
09.14.2023
Laura Wolvaardt: Touring Pakistan for the first time
In a month where South Africa's women's team toured Pakistan for the first time, we speak to interim captain Laura Wolvaardt about how she is adjusting to the role after a difficult period for South Africa with a number of...
09.07.2023
Rahul returns for India and the 16 year-old record breaker, who’s still at school
On Stumped this week, Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma speak to 16 year-old Vaishnave Mahesh who has become the youngest player, male or female to take 50 T20 international wickets and she’s still at school. The United Arab...
08.31.2023
The first red card in cricket
Sunil Narine, the Trinbago Knight Riders spinner has made unwanted history by becoming the first cricketer to receive a red card during a Caribbean Premier League match. Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma discuss the new rule and whether...
08.24.2023
Neil Wagner: Limo rides, post-match football and the beauty of Test cricket
A post-match football game against the opposition, a beer, and a limousine drive up a mountain. That’s how New Zealand fast-bowler Neil Wagner celebrated his side’s incredible victory over England in February. Wagner took James Anderson's wicket to beat the...
08.17.2023
Spencer Johnson: From greenskeeper to Australia’s Baggy Green?
As recently as three years ago Spencer Johnson was working as a greenskeeper in Australia, supplementing his income as he recovered from a nightmare spell with injuries. Doctors had doubts over whether he would even be able to run again....
08.10.2023
Lydia Greenway on cricket's first female shoe
Four-time Ashes winner Lydia Greenway joins us to discuss how she’s been working on the design of the first performance shoes for women cricketers in the UK. Due to be launched in January, Greenway says it’s a much needed development...
08.03.2023
Ollie Pope: The fairytale finish for Broad
The England vice captain Ollie Pope joins us to reflect on a dramatic Ashes series. Pope was ruled out of the contest after dislocating his right shoulder in the second Test. He discusses his recovery and the influence of Stuart...
07.27.2023
'Harmanpreet Kaur should be banned for 12 months'
Is the two-match ban given to India captain Harmanpreet Kaur by the International Cricket Council sufficient? Jim Maxwell doesn’t think so. On this week’s Stumped, Jim states that her behaviour following her dismissal in a One Day International against Bangladesh...
07.19.2023
Major League Cricket: Will it break America?
We’re heading to America to meet the co-owner of a Major League Cricket franchise. Anand Rajaraman is an entrepreneur who has sold businesses to Amazon and Walmart, as well as being an early investor in Facebook. His latest start-up is...
07.13.2023
The most entertaining Ashes ever?
Alison Mitchell is joined by Clint Wheeldon and Sunil Gupta to reflect on an exhilarating Ashes series across both the men’s and women’s game, with more thrills still to come. England looked down and out in the women’s multi-format series...
07.06.2023
The fall of West Indies
Where has it all gone wrong for West Indies? Charu Sharma, Jim Maxwell and Nikesh Rughani discuss the decline of a once-great cricketing nation as they failed to reach the World Cup in India later this year. The two-time champions...
06.29.2023
When Bluey meets Cricket
Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma all react to the landmark review into cricket in England and Wales, which says racism, sexism, classism and elitism are "widespread" throughout the sport. We also ask, how England can find a way...
06.22.2023
The Ashes rollercoaster
Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma discuss the drama of the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston - from Ben Stokes’ shock first-innings declaration, to Pat Cummins’ match winning performance with the bat to what’s next for England’s bowlers. Plus...
06.15.2023
Stumped at Lord’s with Justin Langer and Clare Connor
Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Sunil Gupta meet at Lord’s to look back on the World Test Championship final and preview the upcoming Ashes series. We’re joined at the home of cricket by former Australia opener and coach Justin...
06.08.2023
The World Test Championship Final and Moeen Ali's Test return
On this week's Stumped, Jim Maxwell and Alex Hartley are at The Oval where the ICC World Test Championship Final is taking place between Australia and India. They are joined by Charu Sharma and reflect on a dominant batting display...
06.01.2023
MS Dhoni: The Tom Brady of the IPL?
Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma reflect on arguably the greatest Indian Premier League final ever and ask whether MS Dhoni should retire now after winning his fifth title with Chennai Super Kings? The final spanned three days after...
05.25.2023
Shabnim Ismail: I 'almost' retired before the World Cup
On this week's Stumped we are joined by one of the fastest bowlers in the women's game, Shabnim Ismail who has just retired from international cricket. South Africa made it to the 2023 World Cup Final at home in Cape...

What's Stumped about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Stumped episodes:

From Australia to New York: The World Cup pitches travelling 17,000 kilometres

What is the best way to prepare for a Cricket World Cup?

Who is the toughest player in men's cricket?

David Wiese: Franchise cricket is nearing saturation point

Marais Erasmus: My life as an international umpire

IPL: Scouting India's next star

Jimmy Anderson: The David Bowie of cricket

Does cricket need a two-tier World Test Championship?

Japanese Cricket Icon: Shizuka Miyaji

The WPL and the Bucket Hat Cult

Australia's Mitchell Marsh on the power of talking

Jaiswal: India's next 'legend'?

Kevin Sinclair on backflips and West Indies historic win

Saumy Pandey: India’s Junior Jadeja

Super Shamar Joseph

Ellyse Perry: Greatest female cricketer we've ever seen

How to save Test cricket?

The Best of Stumped in 2023

Jim Maxwell: Celebrating 50 years of Australia's 'Voice of Summer'

David Warner: Answering his critics?

WBBL winner: 'I taught myself how to bowl spin'

The WBBL final: Will Adelaide Strikers dominate?

Australia captain Pat Cummins is a 'special human being'

Will Virat Kohli help India win the World Cup?

ICC's Geoff Allardice discusses the latest on Afghanistan women's cricket

Meet the first female coach in the Pakistan Super League

Afghanistan's secret to success

Afghanistan's secret to success

Sinalo Jafta on alcoholism, rehab and recovery

India World Cup: ‘This is your Bollywood movie’

World Cup fever, proud Dutchman and Gandhi's cricket connections

India’s first gold medal and Pakistan’s trailblazing captain Nida Dar

De Kock on retirement, taking the knee and unfinished business

Laura Wolvaardt: Touring Pakistan for the first time

Rahul returns for India and the 16 year-old record breaker, who’s still at school

The first red card in cricket

Neil Wagner: Limo rides, post-match football and the beauty of Test cricket

Spencer Johnson: From greenskeeper to Australia’s Baggy Green?

Lydia Greenway on cricket's first female shoe

Ollie Pope: The fairytale finish for Broad

'Harmanpreet Kaur should be banned for 12 months'

Major League Cricket: Will it break America?

The most entertaining Ashes ever?

The fall of West Indies

When Bluey meets Cricket

The Ashes rollercoaster

Stumped at Lord’s with Justin Langer and Clare Connor

The World Test Championship Final and Moeen Ali's Test return

MS Dhoni: The Tom Brady of the IPL?

Shabnim Ismail: I 'almost' retired before the World Cup