

Stumped
BBC World Service
The weekly cricket show from BBC Sport in association with ABC and Akashvani.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 14, 2025 • 33min
Charlotte Edwards: England head coach on World Cup hopes
Our build-up to the Women’s World Cup in India continues and this week we are focusing on England. We hear from Head Coach Charlotte Edwards who tells us if she thinks they can realistically win the tournament, whether their captain Nat Sciver-Brunt will bowl and the significance of spin bowler Sophie Ecclestone.Plus, Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma are joined by Kent and Oval Invincibles player Tawanda Muyeye. He came to England as a refugee and now harbours hopes to represent the country. Muyeye was granted refugee status along with some members of his family due to the human rights violations in Zimbabwe and arrived just days before his 17th birthday. Now aged 24, Muyeye has had a prolific year in 2025 in both the County Championship and the Hundred and we chat about his journey. Photo: Charlotte Edwards, Head Coach of England pictured during a training session ahead of the 1st T20I match between England Women and India Women at Trent Bridge on June 27, 2025 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Matt Lewis - ECB/ECB via Getty Images)

Aug 7, 2025 • 39min
Alana King: The queen of spin on the Hundred and World Cup
Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma reflect on the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy and debate their standout moments. They discuss how Shubman Gill has elevated himself in the eyes of the Indian public and celebrate the heroics of Chris Woakes. Plus with eight weeks to go until the Women's World Cup in India, we will be hearing from a representative from each of the eight countries competing to discuss their prospects. This week it is Australia's Ashes hero, spinner Alana King!Photo: Alana King of Trent Rockets celebrates taking the wicket of Heather Knight of London Spirit during The Hundred match between Trent Rockets Women and London Spirit Women at Trent Bridge on August 07, 2024 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk - ECB/ECB via Getty Images)

Jul 31, 2025 • 37min
Is India's head coach Gautam Gambhir feeling the pressure?
Alison Mitchell, Sunil Gupta and Jim Maxwell discuss whether India head coach Gautam Gambhir is feeling the pressure. It's after he was seen arguing with the Oval's head groundsman, Lee Fortis, ahead of the fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Out of their last 10 matches ahead of the Oval test, India have lost six and won two. We also ask what long term impact Ben Stokes' shoulder injury may have on England after he was ruled out for six to seven weeks. We debate where Joe Root ranks among the greatest men’s batters of all time after he moved up to second on the all-time list of Test run scorers. This week’s guest, cricket writer and broadcaster, Jarrod Kimber, tells the show that Root’s ability to get off strike when under pressure is his 'super skill' and the best in modern cricket. And we hear from former India women's captain Mithali Raj as we build up to this September's World Cup.Image: India Head Coach, Gautam Gambhir speaks to the team ahead of Day Two of the 4th Rothesay Test Match between England and India at Emirates Old Trafford on July 24, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

Jul 24, 2025 • 45min
Should the World Test Championship finals always be held in England?
***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)

Jul 17, 2025 • 37min
How does West Indies cricket recover from Test humiliation?
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)

Jul 10, 2025 • 48min
India's women make T20 history in England
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)

Jul 3, 2025 • 38min
Vernon Philander on Bumrah, Archer and the life of a fast bowler
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.

Jun 26, 2025 • 31min
England vs India: Where does the India Test team go from here?
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)

Jun 19, 2025 • 46min
De Villiers: South Africa's WTC victory 'stirred the emotions'
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)

Jun 12, 2025 • 38min
Test cricket: Past, present and future
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)