Isa Tara Guha (born 21 May 1985) is an English 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] She cites winning the World Cup in 2009 as a career highlight.[2] She played as a right-arm fast-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]
![]() On DLF IPL Extraaa Innings T20 show | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Isa Tara Guha | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | (1985-05-21) 21 May 1985 (age 37) High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Batting | Right-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bowling | Right-arm fast-medium | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Role | Bowler | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
International information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
National side |
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Test debut (cap 137) | 14 August 2002 v India | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Last Test | 22 January 2011 v Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ODI debut (cap 94) | 10 August 2001 v Scotland | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Last ODI | 21 October 2011 v South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ODI shirt no. | 19 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
T20I debut (cap 5) | 5 August 2004 v New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Last T20I | 29 October 2011 v South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Domestic team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1998–1999 | Thames Valley | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2000–2014 | Berkshire | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: CricketArchive, 7 March 2021 |
Guha's parents came to the UK in the 1970s from Calcutta, West Bengal, India[4] She was born in High Wycombe, England.
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 state school for girls.[6] She graduated with a degree in biochemistry and molecular biology and gained an MPhil in neuroscience, both at University College London.[7][8]
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, shares the world record partnership for the ninth wicket – 73 runs – in Women's ODI history.[17][18]
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]
Isa Guha is an Ambassador (or "Supporter")[29] for Sporting Equals[30] and the British Asian Trust.[23][31]
Guha married her long-time boyfriend, musician Richard Thomas who is a member of the band Brother and Bones, in September 2018.[32]
Bowlers who have taken 100 Women's ODI wickets | |
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Current players are listed in italics. |
England squad – 2005 Women's Cricket World Cup semi-finalists | ||
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England squad – 2009 Women's Cricket World Cup – Champions (3rd title) | ||
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England squad – 2009 Women's World Twenty20 – Champions (1st title) | ||
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