MUMBAI: Cricket has united three radio networks- BBC World Service, All India Radio (AIR) and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), for a programme called 'Stumped', which has been developed by BBC. The new programme will be dedicated to exploring the world of cricket. UK, India and Australia, which are the hub of world cricket, will be an integral part of the show.

The show will be launched on 17 January from 12.30 a.m. GMT around the world on the BBC World Service; in India AIR will broadcast it at 11.30 a.m. IST; and it will go on-air on ABC news and ABC's Grandstand DAB Sport network at 11.30 a.m. EST. It will also be available online on the BBC World Service site.

In order to keep the energy going, and have interesting information and humour rolling throughout the show, there will be three presenters from the different broadcasters. It includes BBC's first female cricket commentator- Alison Mitchell who will host the show, followed by assistance from ABC's Jim Maxwell and AIR's cricket commentator (in English) Prakash Wakankar. The weekly show will also have cricket storyteller Henry Blofeld, who will appear each week with his 'tales from the test'.

The World Cup 2015 will commence on 14 February and the show will help build-up lighter stories in sport from around the world; and stories about the host countries Australia and New Zealand.

AIR DG F Sheheryar said, “AIR is delighted to co-produce and broadcast ‘Stumped’, together with BBC and ABC, on cricket, which undoubtedly is the favourite sport of millions of sports lovers in India. All India Radio hopes that this programme, which will be carried by AIR’s FM Rainbow network in India, will help ordinary listeners understand the sport better and also spark listeners’ interest in the game in which India is the reigning champion especially with the ICC World Cup round the corner.”

BBC World Service senior commissioning editor Steve Titherington said, "Cricket is a game with huge international appeal, but is understood fully only by some. It's a game where the heroes can be as popular as pop stars and the facts and figures studied as much as mathematical equations. Most of all it's a game which has attracted some of the best conversation and the best writing around the world. Stumped will concentrate this heritage into a programme that will delight the hardcore fans in any continent while appealing to the rest of us."