Stumped

Alison Mitchell, Brett Sprigg and Charu Sharma hear from Australian international and Gloucestershire captain Cameron Bancroft who tells us he is still hoping to play for Australia again, six years on from his last appearance. Bancroft also shares that he has never spoken to current Australia head coach Andrew McDonald and shares why he loves red ball cricket so much.Plus we celebrate two stand out India stars. 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi became the youngest player to hit a T20 century so we find out more about his upbringing. We also hear about Pratika Rawal who has become the fastest female batter to reach 500 One Day International runs.Photo: Cameron Bancroft of Australia walks out to bat during day four of the First Test Match of the 2017/18 Ashes Series between Australia and England at The Gabba on November 26, 2017 in Brisbane, Australia. (Credit: Getty Images)

This episode contains references to suicide. 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.orgThe Women’s World Cup qualifiers have reached their conclusion with Pakistan and Bangladesh making it through to the ODI World Cup later this year. Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma discuss their prospects in the tournament. We also reflect on West Indies who have missed out on the Women's World Cup for the first time in 25 years.Plus, we are joined by Lawrence Booth, the editor of the 162nd edition of the Wisden Almanack, he shares his strong opinions on the global game and reveals the name of the five Wisden cricketers of the year. We hear from Australia all-rounder Cameron Green on his kidney condition and Ashes dreams.Photo: Hayley Matthews of West Indies looks dejected after defeat to New Zealand during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Semi-Final 2024 match between West Indies and New Zealand at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on October 18, 2024 in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Alex Davidson-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)

Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma are joined by former Australia player turned commentator Mel Jones who has been integral in helping Afghanistan women’s cricketers. She gives us her reaction after the ICC have announced they are setting up a dedicated taskforce to help the Afghanistan women.Plus, Tanzania have made history after their under 19's men's team have qualified for the World Cup for the very first time. We are joined by captain Laksh Bakraina and Vice Chair of the Tanzania Cricket Association Ashish Nagewadia who shares what it means to the country. They also tell us about the celebrations and how cricket is developing across Africa.The Pakistan Super League is now in its tenth year so we look at how the tournament is progressing and discuss David Warner's captaincy with the Karachi Kings.Photo: Friba Hotak of Afghanistan Women's XI (2nd R) celebrates a wicket with her teammates during the cricket match between Afghanistan Women's XI and Cricket Without Borders XI at Junction Oval in Melbourne on January 30, 2025. (Photo by Martin KEEP / AFP via Getty Images)

Alison Mitchell, Clint Wheeldon and Sunil Gupta take stock of the Indian Premier League and discuss whether MS Dhoni should retire at the end of this season. Dhoni had to deny that he was retiring midway through the season after his parents were pictured at his match for Chennai Super Kings against Delhi Capitals. Plus we analyse the return of Jasprit Bumrah who has played his first match in 93 days after injuring his back and how big Virat Kohli’s achievement is of reaching 13,000 T20 runs. Plus we go behind the scenes and hear what life is like for a cricket agent. We are joined by Cameron Richardson who manages a number of female Australian players including Ashes hero Alana King. He tells us that when he first saw her bowl at the age of 18, she reminded him of Shane Warne. He also shares with us the difference between managing male and female players and about balancing player burnout. Photo: Chennai Super Kings' Mahendra Singh Dhoni looks on during the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket match between Punjab Kings and Chennai Super Kings at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium on the outskirts of Chandigarh on April 8, 2025. (Photo by SHAMMI MEHRA/AFP via Getty Images)

Alison Mitchell, Clint Wheeldon and Sunil Gupta are joined on the show by Jake Lehmann who helped South Australia win their first Sheffield Shield title in 29 years. He scored a century in the final to follow in his father’s footsteps, Australia legend Darren Lehmann, who was part of the South Australia team when they last won it in 1996.The World Cricketers' Association are calling for changes to what they see as the sports 'chaotic' schedule and 'outdated' regulations. We hear from Tom Moffat who is the CEO of the global players union who tells us more about their recommendations and how 'international cricket could be at risk'.Photo: Jake Lehmann of South Australia gets. his championship medal during the Sheffield Shield match between South Australia and Queensland at Karen Rolton Oval, on March 29, 2025, in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Sarah Reed/Getty Images)

***This episode contains references to Postnatal 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***This weeks Stumped with Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma features an interview with former Australia pace bowler Peter Siddle.Siddle talks about Sachin Tendulkar being his first Test wicket, why changing Australian conditions could impact the kind of bowling attack England choose in the Ashes and how well Jasprit Bumrah bowled during the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The team also speak to Sri Lankan, Nilma Dole-Williams who has had a remarkable life through cricket, playing and coaching in Peru and England and is now training the next generation of Cambodian female cricketers. If you are struggling with your mental health after having a baby, help and information can be found at Befrienders Worldwide: befrienders.org Plus, we reflect on the news that the iconic Gabba stadium is to be demolished.Photo: Peter Siddle of Australia appeals for and gets his hat-trick wicket that of Stuart Broad of England during day one of the First Ashes Test match between Australia and England at The Gabba on November 25, 2010 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Tom Shaw/Getty Images)

This week’s Stumped with Nikesh Rughani, Jim Maxwell and Sunil Gupta is an Indian T20 franchise special.The 18th edition of the Indian Premier League starts on 22 March, and the team discuss the major talking points heading into the tournament, including Kolkata Knight Riders selecting Ajinkya Rahane as captain and if this could be the year for Virat Kohli's RCB to win their first title?We reflect on Mumbai Indians winning the Women’s Premier League for the second time in three years.Plus, we chat to cricket bat restorer Barney Morris about the rare and growing trade in cricket bat repairs. (Photo: Players of Kolkata Knight Riders celebrate with the trophy after their victory against the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2024 IPL Final match on 26 May, 2024, India. Credit: Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

On this week's Stumped, Alison Mitchell, Brett Sprigg and Charu Sharmu discuss India’s dominance of the men’s white ball game - will it continue all the way through to next year’s T20 World Cup and beyond? It’s after India added the Champions Trophy to the T20 World Cup they won in Barbados last year. Virat Kohli reckons this current squad has enough talent to "take on the world" for the next eight years. We speak to Cricket Australia’s outgoing Chief Executive Nick Hockley. He’s standing down at the end of this month after five years in charge. He tells us the controversial resignation of men’s Test captain Tim Paine was one of the most challenging periods of his tenure, but that he and Paine have since spent a lot of time together and he backs him to have a long and successful coaching career.He also told us he believes support for the Afghanistan women’s team will continue after his departure and that the controversial decision to mark 150 years of England against Australia with a day/night game can celebrate the history of the game whilst also nodding to the future.Plus, we look at what Harry Brook’s decision to withdraw from the upcoming Indian Premier League means for him and England.Photo: Virat Kohli of India and teammate Rohit Sharma celebrate following the team's victory in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Final between India and New Zealand at Dubai International Stadium on March 09, 2025 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Credit: ICC via Getty Images)

Alison Mitchell, Charu Sharma and Brett Sprigg are joined by former Ashes winning head coach Andy Flower, who shares his thoughts on England’s Champions Trophy exit and who should be the next white ball captain? Flower is the head coach of Royal Challengers Bangalore, who are preparing for their 18th season in the Indian Premier League and hoping for their first ever title. He tells us what it is like coaching Virat Kohli and the influence he is having on new captain Rajat Patidar. Flower spent time as a consultant with the Australia team so gives us his insight into Steve Smith after he announced his international retirement from One Day Internationals.The ICC Champions Trophy final is set with India taking on New Zealand in Dubai. We preview the final and analyse where it went wrong for Australia and South Africa. Photo: Coach Andy Flower speaks to his players during an England Lions training session at Allan Border Field on November 24, 2017 in Brisbane, Australia. (Credit: Getty Images)

This week is our 500th episode of Stumped. The show has been going for ten years, so Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma reflect on how the game has changed and developed over the last decade. India and New Zealand are through to the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy at the expense of Bangladesh and Pakistan. We look at where it went wrong for the hosts and celebrate India’s Virat Kohli who became the fastest player to score 14,000 One Day International runs. And after England's defeat against Afghanistan to knock them out of the tournament, we ask if Jos Buttler should remain as captain?Plus, after 16-year-old G Kamalani hit the winning runs for the Mumbai Indians in the Women's Premier League, we look at the pressure on young cricketers. Vice President of the Western Region Junior Cricket Association, Vanessa Pereira joins us and tells us she is worried about the risk of burnout in aspiring players.Photo: Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma reunited (Credit: Alison Mitchell)