Isa_Guha

Isa Guha

Isa Guha

English cricketer

Isa Tara Guha (born 21 May 1985) is a British cricket commentator, television and radio cricket broadcaster, and a former England cricketer who played in the 2005 World Cup and the 2009 World Cup.[1]

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She cites winning the World Cup in 2009 as a career highlight.[2] She played as a right-arm medium bowler and right-handed batter. She appeared in 8 Test matches, 83 One Day Internationals and 22 Twenty20 Internationals for England between 2001 and 2011. She played domestic cricket for Thames Valley and Berkshire.[3]

Early years and education

Guha was born in High Wycombe, England. Her parents emigrated to the United Kingdom from Calcutta, West Bengal, India, in the 1970s.[4] Guha started playing cricket with her older brother when she was about eight[4] and was selected for the Development England side at 13.[5]

She went to Wycombe High School, a grammar school for girls.[6] Guha graduated with a degree in biochemistry and molecular biology and gained an MPhil in neuroscience, both at University College London.[7][8]

Cricket career

Guha in 2009

A right arm fast-medium bowler, Guha made her Test debut at 17 against India during their tour in 2002.[9] As part of the same tour, Guha played in the 2002 Women's Tri-Series, and performed well, taking three wickets in England's loss against New Zealand in the final.[10] She was the first woman of Indian heritage to play for England.[11]

In 2002, Guha was named BBC Asian Network Sports Personality of the Year.[12] Her best bowling in 44 One-Day Internationals is the 5 for 14 she took against the West Indies in 2008.[13] As of 31 December 2008, she was ranked the number one bowler in the ICC Women's One Day International rankings.[citation needed] She took a career best 5 for 40 in her seventh Test match, against Australia at the Bradman Oval in Bowral in February 2008 and took nine wickets in the match, winning the player of the match award[14] as England retained the Ashes.[15] She was part of the England team which won the 2009 World Cup. She announced her retirement from international cricket on 9 March 2012, although she said she would continue to play county cricket for Berkshire.[16]

Guha, along with Lynsey Askew, shared the world record partnership for the ninth wicket – 73 runs – in Women's ODI history from 2007 until 2024.[17][18]

Media work

Guha writes a column for the BBC Sport website[19] and is a Test Match Special commentator.[20] She joined ITV Sport in April 2012 as a co-presenter of ITV4's coverage of the Indian Premier League.[21][22][23]

In 2016, Guha was a member of the inaugural Triple M radio Test cricket commentary team in Australia.[24] In 2018, she was a commentator for Sky Sports for the England/Pakistan Test matches,[25] and was named as a commentator for Fox Cricket for their Australian cricket coverage.[26] She was also a member of the commentary team at the 2019 Cricket World Cup. In 2020 she was the lead presenter of a new BBC TV Test and ODI highlights show.[27][28]

In 2023, Guha joined the presenting team for the BBC's coverage of the Wimbledon Championships.[29]

Charity interests and philanthropy

Isa Guha is an Ambassador (or "Supporter")[30] for Sporting Equals[31] and the British Asian Trust.[23][32] In 2023, she launched the Got Your Back initiative in order to support female cricket players.[33]

Personal life

Guha married her long-time boyfriend, musician Richard Thomas who is a member of the band Brother and Bones, in September 2018.[34]

References

  1. [1]
    Isa Guha ESPN Cricinfo
  2. [2]
    Walker, Phil (23 October 2012). "A Drink With… Isa Guha". All Out Cricket. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  3. [3]
    "Isa Guha". CricketArchive. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  4. [4]
    Qureshi, Huma (10 October 2012). "Isa Guha: 'England is leading the way in women's cricket'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  5. [5]
    Kumar, K. C. Vijaya (25 July 2014). "I had the best of both worlds: Isa Guha". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  6. [6]
    "Wycombe girl named under 17s Cricketer of the Year". Bucks Free Press. 28 February 2002.
    Dunhill, Lawrence (12 July 2010). "Nine decades of pupils attend renunion". Bucks Free Press.
  7. [7]
    UCL (15 August 2006). "Student cricket star". UCL News. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  8. [8]
    "How Isa Guha is Changing Perceptions about Cricket Presenters | Forbes India Blog". Forbes India. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  9. [9]
    "Isa Guha". Cricinfo. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  10. [10]
    "Isa Guha NZ". Independent.co.uk. 20 July 2002. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  11. [11]
    Guha was the first Asian woman to play for England
  12. [12]
    "England's Isa Guha retires from international cricket". BBC Sport. 9 March 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  13. [13]
    "Full Scorecard of England Women vs West Indies Women 2nd ODI 2008 – Score Report | ESPNcricinfo.com". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  14. [14]
    "Full Scorecard of Australia Women vs England Women Only Test 2008 – Score Report | ESPNcricinfo.com". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  15. [15]
    "England women win to retain Ashes". 18 February 2008. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  16. [16]
    Isa Guha retires from international cricket ESPN Cricinfo, 9 March 2012
  17. [17]
    "12th Match: England Women v New Zealand Women at Chennai, Mar 3, 2007 | Cricket Scorecard |". Cricinfo. ESPN. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  18. [18]
    "Records | Women's One-Day Internationals | Partnership records | Highest partnerships by wicket |". Cricinfo. ESPN. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  19. [19]
    Isa Guha column: 'I've picked a winner with the Black Keys' BBC Sport, 15 February 2012
  20. [20]
    "BBC Radio 4 – Test Match Special, The 2019 Men's World Cup Final". BBC. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  21. [21]
    Indian Premier League cricket returns to ITV4 Archived 8 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine ITV Press Centre, 21 March 2012
  22. [22]
    The Indian Premier League returns to ITV4 and ITV.com Archived 27 January 2013 at archive.today ITV.com, 30 March 2012
  23. [23]
    ITV Snap up England's Women Cricket Star Isa Guha to present IPL coverage Archived 22 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine Total Sport Promotions, 15 April 2011
  24. [24]
    Triple M Delivers Best Ever Ashes Commentary Team Triple M Melbourne, 22 September 2017
  25. [25]
    "Isa Guha is 'new face of cricket' on the BBC..." www.asian-voice.com.
  26. [26]
    Commentary Team Foxtel
  27. [27]
    "Cricket on the BBC: Isa Guha to present Test & ODI highlights shows". BBC Sport. 4 June 2020.
  28. [28]
    Martin, Ali (4 June 2020). "Geoffrey Boycott could end TMS career after BBC omit 79-year-old from lineup". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  29. [29]
    "Who is Wimbledon presenter Isa Guha?". www.radiotimes.com. 27 June 2023.
  30. [30]
    "Isa Guha". Supporters. Sporting Equals. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  31. [31]
    Brand Ambassadors Archived 9 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine Sporting Equals
  32. [32]
    "VIVO IPL 2017 Schedule". Archived from the original on 18 February 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2017. British Asian Trust, September 2016
  33. [33]
    "Guha launches initiative to support women in cricket". BBC Sport. 28 February 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  34. [34]
    "These dreamy pictures from ex-English cricketer Isa Guha's wedding are bound to make your day". Daily News & Analysis. 21 September 2018.
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