Stumped

Stumped’s Alison Mitchell is joined by South Africa's wicketkeeper Quinton De Kock to discuss why he has decided to retire from one day cricket after the upcoming Cricket World Cup. Plus he explains why he likes to avoid being in the limelight and his reasons for not ‘taking the knee’ with the South Africa team at the T20 World Cup two years ago. De Kock tells Stumped that players ‘are not just pawns to Cricket South Africa’ and ‘are becoming their own bosses’.Also on the programme, Alison Mitchell, Brett Sprigg and Charu Sharma reflect on India ending their five year title drought after thrashing Sri Lanka to lift the Asia Cup title.Picture: Quinton de Kock of South Africa A looks on before the tour match between England Lions and South Africa A at New Road on June 29, 2017 in Worcester, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

In a month where South Africa's women's team toured Pakistan for the first time, we speak to interim captain Laura Wolvaardt about how she is adjusting to the role after a difficult period for South Africa with a number of retirements, including Lizelle Lee.and Dane Van Niekerk. She also gave her reaction to the fact that international match fees for women will match men for the first time in South Africa.Virat Kohli looked back to his very best as he hit an unbeaten century to guide India to their biggest win over Pakistan in one-day internationals. Alison Mitchell, Brett Sprigg and Sunil Gupta all reflect on the Asia Cup clash and the surprise decision to add a reserve day.Photo: Laura Wolvaardt of the Strikers bats during the Women's Big Bash League match between the Sydney Thunder and the Adelaide Strikers at North Sydney Oval, on November 20, 2022, in Sydney, Australia. (CREDIT: Mark Evans/Getty Images)

On Stumped this week, Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma speak to 16 year-old Vaishnave Mahesh who has become the youngest player, male or female to take 50 T20 international wickets and she’s still at school. The United Arab Emirates leg break bowler is also the youngest female cricketer to represent the UAE in 50 T20 international matches. Vaishnave chats about taking the record breaking delivery whilst representing her country in the T20 World Cup Asia qualifiers in Malaysia and her old teammate Mahika Gaur, who swapped her international status from the United Arab Emirates to England. With less than 4 weeks to go until the start of the Cricket World Cup we react to hosts India announcing their squad, with the inclusion of KL Rahul, despite not playing a competitive cricket match since May due to injury. Will this squad help India win a third world title with only one recognised spinner? The panel discuss. We’ll discuss the weather affected Asia Cup and why the world should be scared of Pakistan's pace attack. Plus, we’ll hear from Lydia Carrington, Edgbaston Sustainability Manager in charge of the Go Green game. Last weekend’s T20 match between England and New Zealand was the ground’s first international match run solely on renewable energy.

Sunil Narine, the Trinbago Knight Riders spinner has made unwanted history by becoming the first cricketer to receive a red card during a Caribbean Premier League match. Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma discuss the new rule and whether we could see this being introduced in the Indian Premier League.The legendary England bowler Anya Shrubsole joins Stumped to reflect on the perfect final match as a cricketer, winning her maiden Hundred women’s title for Southern Brave. Anya also discusses the lack of female coaches in the game and whether they should have more support. Anya also reacts to The England and Wales Cricket Board’s decision to ensure that England women’s cricketers will receive the same match fees as the men.Photo: A red card (Credit: Getty Images)

A post-match football game against the opposition, a beer, and a limousine drive up a mountain. That’s how New Zealand fast-bowler Neil Wagner celebrated his side’s incredible victory over England in February. Wagner took James Anderson's wicket to beat the tourists by a single run earlier this year, and two weeks later he ran alongside Kane Williamson in their final-ball victory over Sri Lanka. He joins Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Sunil Gupta to share what it’s like to be at the heart of two of the greatest ever finishes to a Test match. Plus, with England and New Zealand set to face off in a warm-up series for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, we’ll get Wagner’s views on who the favourites are for the tournament.We preview the Asia Cup, which finally gets under way next week following months of doubt over its location. The tournament was originally scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan, but last year the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Jay Shah said that it would need to be held in a neutral venue, stating “we can't go there and they can't come here.” As a result, four matches are taking place in Pakistan with the rest hosted by Sri Lanka, including next week’s match between Pakistan and India.Plus, Alison Mitchell speaks to the captain of the England Women’s Visually Impaired team, Kathryn Jelfs-White. Kathryn is currently leading her country in the team’s debut appearance at the IBSA World Games.Image: New Zealand's Neil Wagner celebrates taking the final wicket of England's James Anderson to win during day five of the second cricket test match between New Zealand and England at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on February 28, 2023. (Photo by Marty MELVILLE / AFP) (Photo by MARTY MELVILLE/AFP via Getty Images)

As recently as three years ago Spencer Johnson was working as a greenskeeper in Australia, supplementing his income as he recovered from a nightmare spell with injuries. Doctors had doubts over whether he would even be able to run again. Fast forward to the present day and he has just been called up for Australia’s T20 matches against South Africa, with a place at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup still a possibility should a compatriot sustain an injury. He joins Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Sunil Gupta to share his story and hopes for the future. Having played in the inaugural Major League Cricket series in America, could a stint in the Indian Premier League be on the cards?The team react to England men’s Test captain Ben Stokes’ decision to end his one-day international retirement and play for the reigning champions at the World Cup later this year. We also discuss the impact of his return on Harry Brook, who has been left out of the England squad for their matches against New Zealand as a result of Stokes’ inclusion.Plus, we learn about the man with the highest first-class batting average in cricket history. Norman Callaway played one match for New South Wales in 1915 and scored 207 runs, but he went to fight in World War I shortly after and died in battle at the age of 21. Australian historian Ross McMullin has told Callaway’s story in his book ‘Life So Full of Promise: further biographies of Australia’s lost generation’, and he joins us to share more details about his life.Image: LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 15: Spencer Johnson of Oval Invincibles in action during The Hundred match between Oval Invincibles Men and London Spirit Men at The Kia Oval on August 15, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Davidson - ECB/ECB via Getty Images)

Four-time Ashes winner Lydia Greenway joins us to discuss how she’s been working on the design of the first performance shoes for women cricketers in the UK. Due to be launched in January, Greenway says it’s a much needed development for the women’s game and may help with the prevention of injuries.With under two months until the start of the Men's Cricket World Cup in India, Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma react to Australia's preliminary squad with some surprise selections including the omission of Marnus Labuschagne.We also reflect on the Twenty 20 international series between West Indies and India.Photo: England's Lydia Greenway leaves the field after being dismissed by Ellyse Perry of Australia during day two of the Kia Women's Test of the Women's Ashes Series between England and Australia Women at The Spitfire Ground on August 12, 2015 in Canterbury, United Kingdom. (Photo by Sarah Ansell/Getty Images)

The England vice captain Ollie Pope joins us to reflect on a dramatic Ashes series. Pope was ruled out of the contest after dislocating his right shoulder in the second Test. He discusses his recovery and the influence of Stuart Broad on his career. Plus, he reacts to England being docked World Test Championship points for a slow over rate during the Ashes series.Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma all reflect on a pulsating Ashes series which finished all square at 2-2 after Stuart Broad on his 167th and final Test clinched victory for England in their fifth Ashes Test.The USA Correspondent for Cricinfo, Peter Della Penna also gives us his verdict on the first edition of the Major League Cricket tournament which concluded this week with MI New York lifting the trophy.Picture: Stuart Broad of England holds a stump following Day Five of the LV= Insurance Ashes 5th Test Match between England and Australia at The Kia Oval on July 31, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Is the two-match ban given to India captain Harmanpreet Kaur by the International Cricket Council sufficient? Jim Maxwell doesn’t think so. On this week’s Stumped, Jim states that her behaviour following her dismissal in a One Day International against Bangladesh brought the game into disrepute and he advocates for a year-long ban in addition to her being stripped of the national team captaincy. Harmanpreet hit her own stumps with her bat after being dismissed and criticised the umpires in the post-match presentation. Australia have retained the men’s Ashes after rain decided the outcome of the fourth Test with England. Alison Mitchell, Charu Sharma and Jim discuss whether poor conditions are an inevitability that Test cricket has to put up with, or whether there’s a way around it. Plus, we meet England’s youngest ever international cricketer. Leanne Davis left exam revision behind to make her debut in an ODI against South Africa in July 2000 as a 15 year old, but she only played once more for her country. 23 years on, she’s living in Adelaide working in the non-profit sector, helping young people affected by cancer.Image: Harmanpreet Kaur of India cuts a dejected figure following the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Semi Final match between Australia and India at Newlands Stadium on February 23, 2023 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)

We’re heading to America to meet the co-owner of a Major League Cricket franchise. Anand Rajaraman is an entrepreneur who has sold businesses to Amazon and Walmart, as well as being an early investor in Facebook. His latest start-up is the San Francisco Unicorns and he aims to make cricket a mainstream American sport. The first question is: Why has he named his team after a mythical creature?Plus, Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma are joined by England fast-bowler Kate Cross following the conclusion of a thrilling Women’s Ashes. After losing the first Test and T20 of the multi-format series England looked down and out, but managed to rally and draw the series. Unfortunately for them, Australia retained the Women’s Ashes as they were the holders. We get Kate’s thoughts on her side’s performances and whether the structure of the series needs to be reviewed.Image: Ali Khan and Nosthush Kenjige of USA make their way off following the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Qualifier Zimbabwe 2023 9th and 10th Playoff match between USA and UAE at Takashinga Cricket Club on July 06, 2023 in Harare, Zimbabwe. (Photo by Alex Davidson-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)