Stumped

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)

On this week's Stumped with Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Sunil Gupta, we hear more about how India's captain Harmanpreet Kaur began her cricketing journey. Kaur was born in Moga, in the north of India and was coached by Kamaldeesh Singh Sodhi. His son Yadwinder, who also coached her, explains how his father first spotted her talent, and how she's grown into a player to step up for her team, most notably after scoring 171 against Australia in the 2017 World Cup.The women's world cup is really heating up with matches going down to the wire and the pressure becoming more intense. Hosts India have gone from the highs of beating Sri Lanka and Pakistan to losing against South Africa and tournament favourites Australia. The team discuss the state of play as the group stage draws ever closer to the end.Plus, we hear from 2017 India World Cup finalist Punam Raut, who told us that despite losing the 2017 final in England, the team were greeted like winners upon their return to India.Photo: Indian cricketers Harmanpreet Kaur (R) and Poonam Raul take a run during the ICC Women's World Cup Twenty20 semi final match between Australia and India at the Beausjour Cricket Ground in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia on May 13, 2010. (Credit: AFP via Getty Images)

With the Women's World Cup underway, Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Prakash Wakankar take stock of the opening week of the tournament. We speak to former India captain and ICC hall of famer, Diana Edulji to find how the Mumbai Cricket Association's talent hunt is helping to grow the women's game in the city. She tells us how a phone call to legend Sachin Tendulkar helped current India captain Harmanpreet Kaur secure a job in the railways.Plus, we head to a skills camp for girls to see how the Right Pitch Foundation are helping young girls reach their full potential in the game.Photo: Harmanpreet Kaur of India laughs during the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup India 2025 match between India and Pakistan at R. Premadasa Stadium on October 05, 2025 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. (Credit: Getty Images)

Alison Mitchell is in Guwahati and Mumbai to sample the sights and sounds as the long-awaited Women's World Cup gets underway. Joining Alison are the ABC's Brett Sprigg and Akashvani's Charu Sharma.We speak exclusively to BCCI secretary, Devajit Saikia about the growth of women's cricket in India, and whether handshakes will be exchanged ahead of India's match against Pakistan in Colombo.Plus, President of the Assam Cricket Association, Taranga Gogoi, tell us about the prestige of being asked to assume hosting duties in place of Bangalore.Photo: Stumped presenter Alison Mitchell with India fans outside the Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, India. (Credit: BBC)

There are tales of two rivalries on this week's Stumped with Alison Mitchell, Brett Sprigg and Charu Sharma:As England coach Brendon McCullum names his 16-man squad for the Ashes in Australia, the Stumped team discuss white ball captain Harry Brook's promotion to vice-captain, replacing Ollie Pope. There's a surprise in the bowling department, as Will Jacks returns as England's second spinner after a three-year absence, plus is this England's most hostile bowling attack since 1970? We reflect on another feisty meeting between India's men and Pakistan at the Asia Cup, and discuss the fall-out following a number of heated flashpoints which has seen both teams submit complaints to the ICC.Plus, India are in the spotlight as our build up to the Women's World Cup concludes. Broadcaster Annesha Ghosh tells us how the excitement is growing in India ahead of the first match on 30th September.Photo: Harry Brook of England edges as Usman Khawaja of Australia fields during Day One of the LV= Insurance Ashes 5th Test Match between England and Australia at The Kia Oval on July 27, 2023 in London, England. (Credit: Getty Images)

Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma react to the fallout following India's seven wicket over Pakistan in the Asia Cup. Our build-up to the ODI Women’s World Cup continues and we hear from former Pakistan captain turned commentator Urooj Mumtaz. She tells us how she thinks Pakistan will fare in the tournament, her thoughts on captain Fatima Sana and tells us if she thinks Pakistan and India should play each other.Plus we are joined by 18-year-old Tommy Lamb who is travelling from Manchester to Australia to watch the Ashes…. without using a plane. He tells us about his journey so far and about some of the people that he has met on the way.(Photo: India's captain Suryakumar Yadav (C) tosses the coin at the start of the Asia Cup 2025 Twenty20 international cricket match between India and Pakistan, in Dubai, 14 September, 2025. Credit: Sajjad Hussain/AFP/Getty Images)