Stumped

After months of uncertainty, the Asia Cup got under way this week in the United Arab Emirates, having been in doubt following cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan in May, which disrupted the IPL and the Pakistan Super League. That led to speculation whether India would play matches against Pakistan. The Stumped team look ahead to the clash and discuss the competitive balance of the competition and whether any team in the tournament can genuinely challenge India.Our build-up to the Women’s World Cup continues and this week Sri Lanka are the focus. We hear from journalist Estelle Vasudevan, who explains what it means for the country to be back in the competition for the first time since 2017.Plus, can you remember what you were doing at 17 years old? Croatia's Zach Vukusic became the youngest ever international cricket captain in a recent T20 series against Cyprus at just 17 years and 311 days. We discuss his history making achievement.Photo: Captains of participating teams pose with the Asia Cup 2025 Twenty20 international cricket match trophy alongside Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi during a press conference at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on September 9, 2025. (Credit: AFP via Getty Images)

Our Women’s World Cup countdown continues, and this week we focus on South Africa. Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma are joined by all-rounder Annerie Dercksen who tells us about how she went from growing up on a farm and learning about cricket in the newspapers to being voted the ICC women’s emerging cricketer of the year 2024. She also shares what it was like having Dane Van Niekerk as part of their training camp and how the team has been inspired by the Proteas winning the World Test Championship earlier this year.We reflect on The Hundred final and debate whether Australian Adam Zampa should have made the 34,000 kilometre round trip to bowl 20 balls for the Oval Invincibles. Plus, with rumours and ‘retirements’ surrounding both the England and Australia teams ahead of the Ashes, we look at which team is faring better.Photo: Annerie Dercksen of South Africa celebrates with teammate Anneke Bosch after Brooke Halliday of New Zealand (obscured) is caught out during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Final 2024 match between South Africa and New Zealand at Dubai International Stadium on October 20, 2024 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

Our Women’s ODI World Cup countdown continues and this week we are hearing from New Zealand Head Coach Ben Sawyer who tells us how their latest T20 World Cup win inspired a generation. He also shares the impact that captain Sophie Devine has had on the team.Plus, we head to Guernsey whose men’s team are hosting a tri-series this weekend against Finland and Switzerland. We are joined by their Chief Operating Officer Richard Headington to hear how the sport is developing at grassroots level.Photo: Sophie Devine of New Zealand kisses the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Trophy in front of photographers as she celebrates after defeating South Africa during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Final 2024 match between South Africa and New Zealand at Dubai International Stadium on October 20, 2024 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Alex Davidson-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)

Nikesh Rughani, Jim Maxwell and Sunil Gupta discuss the race to be the second biggest franchise tournament behind the Indian Premier League. SA20 commissioner and former South Africa captain Graeme Smith says they 'want to be the biggest league outside the IPL'. Yet with Australia's Big Bash looking for private investment and Indian owners taking majority shares in some Hundred teams, which franchise league can say it's legitimately the most appealing for the world's best cricketers?We continue our build-up to the Women's World Cup with Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Joty. She tells our reporter Charlotte Swift that the team enjoys being the underdog and can build on their first 50 over World Cup appearance three years ago. Plus, we debate squad selections and omissions for both India's men and women as they prepare for the Asia Cup and World Cup respectively.Photo: South Africa & Australia Training - ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 08: Former South Africa cricketer Graeme Smith pictured ahead of the ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 between South Africa and Australia at Lord's Cricket Ground on June 08, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)

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)

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)

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)

***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)