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Does English Cricket have a Diversity Problem?
Stumped
Feb 17, 2018

Vikram Solanki became the only full-time non-white coach across the domestic league in England after becoming assistant head coach of Surrey County Cricket Club - we speak to Roland Butcher, the first black player to represent England, on the lack of ethnic minority coaches in county cricket.

Two weeks ago, not many of you would have heard of 26-year-old wicketkeeper Heinrich Klaasen - but he is now been in the headlines following a remarkable performance with the bat to give South Africa a much needed victory in the fourth One Day International against India in Johannesburg. India eventually won their first bilateral series in South Africa with victory in the fifth ODI. Klaasen was called into the Proteas squad for his debut after Quinton de Kock injured his finger in the second ODI and Heinrick told Alison the last couple of weeks have been a complete dream.

Also on this week's programme, we pay tribute to the former New Zealand Test captain Bevan Congdon who died, one day short of his 80th birthday, after a long illness.

Congdon led New Zealand to their first win over Australia in Christchurch in 1974. The former Black Caps batsman John Parker played 22 Tests alongside Congdon including that historic win over the Aussies. He told Alison his memories of what it was like to share the same dressing room as Congdon.

(Photo: Roland Butcher. Credit - Getty Images)

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Mar 26, 2026
IPL 2026: Can Virat Kohli lead RCB to back-to-back titles?

The IPL returns for its 19th edition and Royal Challengers Bengaluru start as the defending champions for the first time in their history.

Former IPL player and now commentator Abhinav Mukund joins Eleanor Oldroyd, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma to discuss the big IPL talking points ahead of the start of the season.

Can RCB win back-to-back titles and should teams expect “a scary version” of Virat Kohli now he goes in as a T20 specialist?

Will this be MS Dhoni’s last dance in the IPL? Mukund gives his view as his former team-mate and how he expects Chennai Super Kings to utilise both Dhoni and new signing Sanju Samson.

There’s also talk around Cameron Green and whether being the most expensive overseas player in IPL history will add extra pressure on the Australian? Plus, what to expect from teenager Vaibhav Suryavanshi and has Ben Duckett made the right decision to focus on England over the IPL?

The Stumped team also reflect on the news England coach Brendon McCullum, Test captain Ben Stokes and director of cricket Rob Key are all remaining in their posts, despite the 4-1 Ashes series defeat. Is it the right decision and how can England “evolve”?

Image: Virat Kohli of Royal Challengers Bengaluru lifts the IPL trophy following the trophy presentation in the 2025 IPL Final match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings at Narendra Modi Stadium on June 03, 2025, in Ahmedabad, India. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)


41min 51sec

Does English Cricket have a Diversity Problem?

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