***This episode contains references to suicide and 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***

On this week's Stumped, Nikesh Rughani, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma discuss the decision to award England the next three World Test Championship finals. Is England the natural home for the event or should the ICC consider rotating between venues?

We hear about plans to pay tribute to legendary England batter Graham Thorpe at the 5th Test between England and India, with ‘A Day for Thorpey'. We hear from Thorpe’s wife Amanda, his daughters Kitty and Emma and we’re joined by Hayley Jarvis from the mental health charity, Mind.

And, with the 4th Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar series well underway - we ask who can share India's fast bowling burden with Jasprit Bumrah?

(Photo by Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)

On this week's Stumped with Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma, West Indies slumped to an historic 27-all out against Australia - the lowest score recorded in Test cricket since 1955. Following their humiliation, the WIndies cricket board called an emergency meeting but what will that do to help turn around their fortunes? The team discuss what's next for Test cricket in the Caribbean.

Plus, in 2013, Puja Pabari, who had never followed cricket and didn’t understand the game, married India batter Cheteshwar Pujara and witnessed firsthand what happens in an international cricketer’s daily life. They both join us, as we pull back the curtain and find out what life is really like for the spouse of an elite cricketer.

Photo: Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster, Cameron Green and Sam Konstas of Australia celebrate the dismissal of Jayden Seales of West Indies during the third day of the third Test cricket match between West Indies and Australia at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica, on July 14, 2025. (Credit: AFP via Getty Images)

Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma discuss whether India's women are now the side to beat after they win a T20 series on English soil for the first time. We hear from India's winning run scorer, Jemimah Rodrigues and England women's Head Coach, Charlotte Edwards.

Former England men’s spinner and current England men’s U19s Head Coach, Michael Yardy, tells Stumped the future of English cricket is in good hands as his side prepare to face their Indian counterparts in a two-match Test series. He also gives us his take on India’s 14-year-old batting sensation, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who’s been the standout player for the tourists so far.

And, we debate whether South Africa’s stand-in captain Wiann Mulder did the right thing declaring himself just 33 runs short of Brian Lara's record for the highest individual score in a Test innings.

Photo: Richa Ghosh and Jemimah Rodrigues of India celebrate hitting the winning runs following the 4th Women's Vitality IT20 match between England and India at Emirates Old Trafford on July 09, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

This week Henry Moeran, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma discuss the toll being a fast bowler takes on the body.

We hear from former South Africa quick, Vernon Philander. He fears Jofra Archer doesn’t have enough overs in his legs to play international test cricket yet. He also shares his thoughts on how India are managing Jasprit Bumrah's fitness after he was rested for the 2nd Test at Edgbaston.

England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt tells Stumped her side’s problems with spin must be addressed as they build to this Autumn’s World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

And we look at why Pakistan’s men continue to struggle to find a permanent test Head Coach.

On this week’s Stumped with Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell & Charu Sharma, we hear from Indian Test Cricketer K S Bharat after India lose the opening Test of their five match series away in England.

Bharat talks about what Shubman Gill is like as a captain, what it is like to keep wicket to Jasprit Bumrah and what changes India could make to their side going forward.

The team also discus Australia’s tour of the West Indies, with both sides in transition they assess the changes they’re making.

Plus, we reflect on the Test match retirement of Sri Lanka great Angelo Mathews.

Photo: Joe Root and Jamie Smith of England celebrate after Smith hits the winning runs during day five of the first Rothesay Test Match between England and India at Headingley on June 24, 2025 in Leeds, England. (Credit: Visionhaus/Getty Images)

On this week’s Stumped with Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell & Charu Sharma, we hear from South Africa great AB de Villiers about their World Test Championship triumph, what this means for Test cricket and India’s Virat Kohli retiring from the longest form of the game.

Former England fast bowler Liam Plunkett chats about India's Test series in England, the third season of Major League Cricket and the legacy co-hosting the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup has had on cricket in America.

And the team preview England and India playing for the Anderson-Tendulkar trophy.

Photo: Temba Bavuma of South Africa celebrates on the team balcony with the ICC World Test Championship Mace alongside teammates following the side's victory on during Day Four of the ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 between South Africa and Australia at Lord's Cricket Ground on June 14, 2025 in London, England. (Credit: ICC via Getty Images)

Alison Mitchell and Jim Maxwell are at Lord's for the World Test Championship Final between Australia and South Africa. They are joined by Charu Sharma in India to delve into Test cricket's past, present and future. We hear about the history of the format, the challenges faced and what we can learn from its past with cricket journalist Tim Wigmore who has written a book called Test Cricket: A History.

We assess where Test cricket is at now focusing on Australia and South Africa and hear from two legends who have been inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden and former South Africa captain Graeme Smith speak to Alison Mitchell about if they believe Test cricket is in danger. Plus, the team debate what needs to be done to save Test cricket and how will it look in the future.

Photo: A general view as members look on from the Pavilion during match play of the first South Africa innings on Day One of the ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 between South Africa and Australia at Lord's Cricket Ground on June 11, 2025 in London, England. (Credit: ICC via Getty Images)

On this week’s Stumped with Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell & Charu Sharma, the team ask whether Virat Kohli has finally completed cricket after getting his hands on the trophy that has eluded him throughout his stellar white ball career.

He won the Indian Premier League with Royal Challengers Bengaluru after 18 years and over 260 matches, having first been drafted by them back in 2008, and he’s been loyal to them too - the only player to have played for just one team in all 18 IPL seasons.

The team also reflect on the sad scenes in Bangalore, after eleven people died and dozens were injured in a crush as fans flocked to the Chinnaswamy stadium at an event to welcome the team back home to Bangalore.

Plus, we hear from South Africa Test captain Temba Bavuma ahead of the World Test Championship final. Bavuma tells us that Kagiso Rabada has apologised to his teammates and that they're supporting him as much as they can following his recent one month ban from cricket after he tested positive for use of a recreational drug.

Photo: Virat Kohli of Royal Challengers Bengaluru lifts the IPL trophy alongside teammates following the team's victory in the 2025 IPL Final match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings at Narendra Modi Stadium on June 03, 2025, in Ahmedabad, India. (Credit: Getty Images)

This week we discuss how new India captain Shubman Gill may lead the side. A former member of India’s coaching set up, R Sridhar, is our guest. He explains how Gill is a mix of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

It’s not just a new era for India, but also for England. Harry Brook is the new men’s white ball captain for a series of three ODIs and three T20s against West Indies. We ask whether Brook is the right choice to improve England’s poor form in limited overs cricket, and whether this extra responsibility could affect his Test form.

Plus: the team also reflect on Sikandar Raza’s remarkable journey from playing for Zimbabwe in Nottingham on Saturday, to hitting the title winning runs in the Pakistan Super League in Lahore on Sunday.

Photo: India's Shubman Gill celebrates after scoring a century during the third day of the first Test cricket match between India and Bangladesh at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on September 21, 2024. (Credit: AFP via Getty Images)

Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma look ahead to a defining year for England's men's Test team with a home series against India and an away Ashes to come.

We hear from Zimbabwe's Managing Director, Givemore Makoni, on the team playing a remarkable 11 Tests this year and what that means financially. He also tells Stumped why cricket at the Olympics must be different and not solely about the big nations like the Champions Trophy.

Plus, a new era for England's women is underway. We discuss what fans can expect from new head coach Charlotte Edwards and her captain Nat Sciver-Brunt.

Photo: England captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum during the team group during nets ahead of the 3rd Test Match between Pakistan and England at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on October 23, 2024 in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. (Credit: Getty Images)