Stumped

On Stumped this week with Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma we discuss if IPL investment could be coming to the Big Bash League? It’s an issue that has divided cricket in Australia, but Charu feels Indian investors may not jump at the chance of buying a stake in a franchise.

What’s the point of one-off Test matches? We debate the pros and cons of short series after former Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews blasted the potential idea of one-off Tests in the next series of the World Test Championship.

And we hear from Brazil pacer Laura Cardoso, who stunned the cricket world with record-breaking T20 international figures of 9 for 4, the best ever in the format. Remarkably, Cardoso says she had no idea she’d made history.

Photo: The Scorchers celebrate with the trophy after victory in the Men's Big Bash League Final match between the Perth Scorchers and the Brisbane Heat at Optus Stadium on February 04, 2023 in Perth, Australia. (Credit: Cricket Australia via Getty Images)

New Zealand’s Suzie Bates will retire from international cricket after this summer’s Women's T20 World Cup. It marks the end of an illustrious 20-year career and many records to be proud of. Suzie tells the podcast it was a difficult decision but feels it’s the right time and believes the future is bright for the White Ferns with the next generation of players.

The Women’s T20 World Cup starts in June and England have included uncapped 18-year-old left arm spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman in their squad. The teenager impressed in the recent intra-squad matches in South Africa. Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma discuss her selection ahead of the tournament.

Kolkata Knight Riders chief executive Venky Mysore says the new Olympic stadium in LA has the potential to host IPL exhibition matches. The venue, in the southern Californian city of Pomona, will become the home of the new franchise Los Angeles Knight Riders and will also host Major League Cricket matches.

And we hear from award winning photographer Gareth Copley- Jones about his new book ‘A Picture of England’ where he’s followed the England men’s cricket team through his lens.

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Just weeks after they were brought in, the new rules allowing replacement players in England's County Championship could be changed at the end of the first block of fixtures. Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma discuss how using substitutes in Australian, Indian and English domestic cricket is working and debate the merits of introducing them to international cricket.

The team also reflect on Smriti Mandhana becoming India's highest run scorer in International T20s.

Plus. we find out more about how the ICC is developing cricket across Europe. Esther de Lange, ICC European Development Officer, joins the team along with Scotland's Nayma Sheikh, who played in the recent ICC Europe XI v MCC at Lord’s.

Photo: Jonny Bairstow of Yorkshire receives medical attention during Day Four of the Rothesay County Championship Division One match between Somerset and Yorkshire at The Cooper Associates County Ground on September 11, 2025 in Taunton, England (Credit: Getty Images)

Praful Hinge made history on his debut by taking three wickets in his very first over. The seamers’ haul included dismissing teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi for a first-ball duck. Nikesh Rughani, Jim Maxwell and Sunil Gupta examine his impact in the league.

It's a tradition dating back over 150 years: the latest edition of the little yellow book, the 2026 Wisden Almanack is out. Editor Lawrence Booth joins the team to discuss the five cricketers of the year.

And with the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup less than two months away, Australian selector Shawn Flegler admits Sophie Molineux's captaincy may need to be reconsidered if her injury problems continue.

Photo: Sunrisers Hyderabad's Praful Hinge celebrates the wicket of Rajasthan Royals' Dhruv Jurel with teammates (Credit: REUTERS/Stringer)

Essex and South Africa all-rounder Wiaan Mulder talks about his life in the County Championship and shares his thoughts on the impact player rule in the Indian Premier League. Nikesh Rughani, Charu Sharma and Jim Maxwell also ask him about his famous 367 declaration to protect Brian Lara's 400 runs Test record.

There's discussion on pace bowling as Bhuvneshwar Kumar made IPL history by becoming the first fast bowler to take 200 wickets in the competition and James Anderson reached a rare feat in the opening game of the County Championship. He got James Sales out in the opening game of the season, only 21 years ago, he also dismissed his father, David Sales. What's the secret to the pacer's longevity?

And the team explores the relationship between cricket and poetry as they find out about the new book, Catching the Light – A New Anthology of Cricket Poetry, which is out this month.

Photo: Wiaan Mulder of South Africa celebrates taking the wicket of Travis Head of Australia during day two of the ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 between South Africa and Australia at Lord's Cricket Ground on June 12, 2025 in London, England. (Credit: ICC via Getty Images)

Rajasthan Royals' 15-year-old sensation, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, continues to make a name for himself after hitting a 15-ball half century against the Chennai Super Kings - the third 50-plus score of his short IPL career so far. Alison Mitchell, Clint Wheeldon and Sunil Gupta discuss the impact he's had in a short amount of time.

While the IPL is ongoing, so is the PSL in neighbouring Pakistan. Australia's Adam Zampa opted out of the IPL and to play in PSL this season. The team examine whether others could follow the spinners lead.

Plus, we head to the land of the rising sun, as the Japan Super League is growing in popularity. We hear from Alan Curr who is Chief Operating Officer for the Japan Cricket Association about the growth of the game in a nation better known for Sumo, cherry blossom and motorsport.

Photo: Rajasthan Royals' Vaibhav Suryavanshi warms up before the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) T20 cricket match between Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on May 1, 2025. (Credit: AFP via Getty Images)

The IPL returns for its 19th edition and Royal Challengers Bengaluru start as the defending champions for the first time in their history.

Former IPL player and now commentator Abhinav Mukund joins Eleanor Oldroyd, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma to discuss the big IPL talking points ahead of the start of the season.

Can RCB win back-to-back titles and should teams expect “a scary version” of Virat Kohli now he goes in as a T20 specialist?

Will this be MS Dhoni’s last dance in the IPL? Mukund gives his view as his former team-mate and how he expects Chennai Super Kings to utilise both Dhoni and new signing Sanju Samson.

There’s also talk around Cameron Green and whether being the most expensive overseas player in IPL history will add extra pressure on the Australian? Plus, what to expect from teenager Vaibhav Suryavanshi and has Ben Duckett made the right decision to focus on England over the IPL?

The Stumped team also reflect on the news England coach Brendon McCullum, Test captain Ben Stokes and director of cricket Rob Key are all remaining in their posts, despite the 4-1 Ashes series defeat. Is it the right decision and how can England “evolve”?

Image: Virat Kohli of Royal Challengers Bengaluru lifts the IPL trophy following the trophy presentation in the 2025 IPL Final match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings at Narendra Modi Stadium on June 03, 2025, in Ahmedabad, India. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

Gary Kirsten has been officially appointed head coach of Sri Lanka's men's national side. He aims to build a winning culture in the build up to the 2027 ODI World Cup. Kirsten famously led India to the 2011 World Cup title and also helped South Africa reach the top of the Test rankings. Kirsten reflects on his short spell coaching Pakistan, gives us his thoughts on whether India can dominate red ball cricket and explains to Alison Mitchell how he previously came close to becoming England head coach.

Plus, Alison, Clint Wheeldon and Charu Sharma all discuss a new chapter for Australia's women's team as life after Alyssa Healy begins with their tour to the Caribbean to face West Indies.

Photo Credit: Dallas, Texas - JUNE 05: Head coach Gary Kirsten of Pakistan looks on during a net session as part of the ICC Men's T20 Cricket World Cup West Indies & USA 2024 at Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium on June 05, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matt Roberts-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)

On this week's Stumped with Alison Mitchell, Clint Wheeldon and Sunil Gupta; after India's men's side banished the ghosts of 2023 and defended their T20 World Cup title on home soil, we look back at a one-sided final and ask whether anyone can match them in white ball cricket?

Plus, we hear from Afghanistan cricketer Tooba Khan Sarwari on how life has been over the last 12 months - including that visit to the Women's World Cup in India - and her hopes for the future.

Photo: Suryakumar Yadav Captain of India along with the teammates lifts the trophy after winning the ICC Men's T20 World Cup India & Sri Lanka 2026 Final between India and New Zealand at Narendra Modi Stadium on March 8, 2026 in Ahmedabad, India. (Credit: MB Media/Getty Images)