Stumped

We look back at the best of Stumped in 2025 which gives you a chance to listen to some of the standout moments from the last twelve months, including our trip to India. We hear from former India captain Anjum Chopra on what it meant to her to witness history being made, when India women won their first ever Cricket World Cup. Plus when Alison Mitchell was in Guwahati, she spoke to the Secretary of the BCCI, Devajit Saikia, who told her how the Women's Premier League has been integral in growing women's cricket in the country.

Back in July, cricket was somewhat divided after South Africa's Wiaan Mulder remarkably passed up the opportunity to break Brian Lara's record for the highest individual score in a Test innings. Mulder, captaining South Africa for the first time, was 367 not out at lunch on the second day of the second Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo when he declared in their first innings. Mulder was just 33 runs short of Lara’s record 400 that he scored for West Indies against England in Antigua in 2004. Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma debate if Mulder made the correct decision.

Former India International Cheteshwar Pujara and his wife Puja Pabari joined the Stumped podcast to share how they navigate life in the public eye. They have written a book and told us how the process came about and reveal what Cheteshwar is like behind closed doors.

And we hear from Tommy Lamb who has been travelling from England to Australia for the Ashes without using a plane.

Photo: Harmanpreet Kaur of India celebrates after taking the catch to dismiss Nadine De Klerk of South Africa and lead the teams out her team to victory in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup India 2025 Final match between India and South Africa at Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy on November 02, 2025 in Navi Mumbai, India. (Photo by Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)

Millions of dollars have been spent as the IPL 2026 mini auction was completed. It was the uncapped Indian players who stole the spotlight with franchises spending large amounts of money on raw potential, so the team debate raw talent versus experience and why all-rounders are so sought after. This comes after Australian Cameron Green has become the most expensive overseas player in the history of the IPL after Kolkata Knight Riders bought the all-rounder for approximately US$2.8 million.

The Women’s Big Bash has a new name on the trophy. Hobart Hurricanes are the champions, so we looked back at the tournament as a whole with the ABC’s Brett Sprigg.

And with the controversy surrounding Snicko in the Ashes, the team debate whether technology still has a place in modern cricket.

Photo: Cameron Green gestures during an IPL match between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on April 6, 2024. (Credit: AFP via Getty Images)

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It is all about the Ashes as Alison Mitchell, Clint Wheeldon and Charu Sharma assess where it went wrong for England in the second Test match at Brisbane and ask how that performance will impact Adelaide and the rest of the series.

We are joined by three-time Ashes winner and former England wicketkeeper Matt Prior. He reacts to Brendon McCullum’s comments that England were ‘overprepared’, tells us how the Ashes winning team he was involved in back in 2010/11 prepared and compares the wicketkeeping of Jamie Smith and Alex Carey. He also tells us what the England team will miss the most about Mark Wood after he has been ruled out of the series after a reoccurrence of his knee injury.

Photo: Matt Prior of England poses with a flag after winning the Ashes series during day five of the Fifth Ashes Test match between Australia and England at Sydney Cricket Ground on January 7, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

With the ongoing day-night Test match between Australia and England, Nikesh Rughani, Clint Wheeldon and Charu Sharma debate the success of the format and ask if it could be seen as a gimmick if more countries don't start playing them?

We hear from Aaron Briggs, who is a data analyst for the ECB and did a PHD on the aerodynamics of swing bowling at Cambridge. He tells us what makes the pink balls so different.

With the five Women's Premier League teams locked in for the new season, we look at the major signings and snubs at the mega auction and hear the story of Mumbai Indians new signing Millie Illingworth.

Plus, with the India and South Africa ODI series level on 1-1, we discuss if Virat Kohli is back to his best after hitting two back to back centuries.

Photo: Ollie Pope of England is bowled by Mitchell Starc of Australia during day one of the Second 2025/26 Ashes Series Test Match between Australia and England at The Gabba on December 04, 2025 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

After the first two-day Ashes Test match since 1921 and an Australian victory to leave the hosts 1-0 up in the series, Alison Mitchell, Corbin Middlemas and Charu Sharma are joined by former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie. He shares where he thinks it went wrong for England, if they should be playing against the President’s XI, if Travis Head should be the new permanent opener for Australia and the proficiency of the hosts in pink ball Tests.

Plus, South Africa beat India by 408 runs to win their two match Test series away from home 2-0. It is India’s heaviest loss and Temba Bavuma’s eleventh win out of twelve as captain of the Proteas. Charu Sharma assesses the mood in India and tells us where the future lies for head coach Gautam Gambhir.

And India have now won their second cricket World Cup in the space of a month. India cricket journalist Annesha Ghosh tells us more about the inaugural Blind Women’s T20 World Cup and how the victory can change the perception of disability sport in the country.

Photo: Travis Head of Australia raises his bat after scoring 100 runs during day two of the First 2025/26 Ashes Series Test Match between Australia and England at Perth Stadium on November 22, 2025 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

We celebrate South Africa’s first Test win in India for 15 years, and Charu Sharma tells us what India will look to do differently to ensure they do not lose the two-Test series.

The Ashes is upon us, so Nikesh Rughani and Jim Maxwell discuss how pivotal the first ball of the series can be. We hear from former Australia opener Justin Langer and from England psychologist Gilbert Enoka on its significance.

Plus, the Indian Premier League have announced their release and retention lists for next year's tournament. The team discuss the surprises and debate which is tougher – captaining your national side or being the captain in a franchise?

Photo - South Africa's captain Temba Bavuma, Marco Jansen and Ryan Rickelton celebrate their team's win at the end of the first Test cricket match between India and South Africa at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on November 16, 2025. (Photo by DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP via Getty Images)

With just one week to go until the Ashes in Australia begins, we hear from England captain Ben Stokes and debate how both teams are shaping up and which team has got their preparation ‘correct’ after all the criticism.

Plus, three-time Ashes winner Steven Finn joins Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma to talk about his new book, what this current team can learn from their predecessors and the constant pressure surrounding fast bowlers.

And with the format announced for cricket at the Olympics in 2028, we look at the significance of cricket at the Games.

Photo: Steven Finn and Graeme Swann of England pose with the Ashes Urn during day five of the Fifth Ashes Test match between Australia and England at Sydney Cricket Ground on January 7, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Tom Shaw/Getty Images)

Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma are celebrating India women’s first ever World Cup victory! Former India women’s captain Anjum Chopra tells us how she felt at the winning moment, what it was like to be in the commentary box and what it means to all the former players who have paved the way.

We also hear from Radha Gupta who is a member of the Bucket Hat Cult who are a loud and proud supporters’ group of India women’s cricket. She says being at the DY Patil stadium in Mumbai and witnessing the win was the ‘top moment of her life’. Plus she tells us what she hopes the win can do for women’s cricket in India.

And the team look at where it went wrong for South Africa in the final.

Photo: Harmanpreet Kaur of India lifts the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup trophy after her team's victory in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup India 2025 Final match between India and South Africa at Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy on November 02, 2025 in Navi Mumbai, India. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma are joined by New Zealand captain Sophie Devine who has just retired from ODI’s following the White Ferns exit from the Women’s World Cup. She looks back on her career, tells us about her experience of this World Cup and what is next for her.

India have made it to the semi-finals of a home World Cup, so we ask if their success is down to the Women’s Premier League and hear from Gujarat player Sayali Satghare on how the WPL helped her earn her maiden cap for India.

Plus with the Ashes around the corner we hear from Australia fast bowler Ryan Harris on the fitness of Pat Cummins and the other bowling options in the Aussie team.

Photo: Sophie Devine, Captain of New Zealand pictured ahead of the coin toss ahead of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup India 2025 match between England and New Zealand at Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium on October 26, 2025 in Visakhapatnam, India. (Photo by Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)

On this week's Stumped, with Alison Mitchell, Matt Clinch and Charu Sharma, we take a closer look at how climate change affects cricket. England batter Maia Bouchier tells us about the physical and mental effects of extreme heat; that's after she contributed to a recent report which warns that players at all levels of the game across the globe are being placed at increasing risk due to playing in extreme conditions. They discuss the latest from the Women's World Cup and ask what can be done to mitigate the weather after a number of games were washed out in Sri Lanka.

We hear from UP Warriorz and India player Saima Thakor and find out how getting off the bus at the wrong stop helped catapult her into an international cricket career.

Plus, the team chat about their favourite pieces of cricket memorabilia after Lord's announced that it was making sections of the outfield available for sale ahead of ground renovations.

Photo: New Zealand's Brooke Halliday cools off herself during a drinks break in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 match between Bangladesh and New Zealand at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on October 10, 2025. (Credit: AFP via Getty Images)