OK! reviews
FROM CRICKETING STARDOM TO LIFE AS A PRESENTER, ISA GUHA TALKS SEXISM IN SPORT AND INSPIRING A NEW GENERATION
Isa Guha found fame as a cricketer, playing for England from 2001 to 2011, and was a member of the team that won the 2009 World Cup. Since then the 36-year-old moved into broadcasting and is fronting coverage of new cricket tournament The Hundred on the BBC this summer.
Hi Isa! We’ve just had the Euros, now you’ll be hoping there is an appetite for all the cricket coming up…
Yes, there is a lot of cricket on this summer. Football is the most-loved sport in this country, so cricket is trying to find ways of getting new audiences and getting people excited about it.
So what’s the idea of The Hundred?
It’s trying to simplify cricket. It’s trying to not alienate existing cricket fans, while appealing to those who might find it hard to understand the game.
Women’s cricket features among the summer’s TV fixtures and there are increasing numbers of women commentating, aren’t there?
Yes, and the number of girls who have picked up cricket bats in the last few years is phenomenal. I think girls growing up are realising that cricket as a sport is an option for them. My family were always supportive of me playing cricket. They ferried me around and Dad set up a women’s section at the local cricket club. Distant relatives may have looked and said,”well, why is she playing cricket?” But I did a PHD and still managed to play for England. Whatever you want to do in life, it is possible.
Is it a thrill to be around the players you grew up watching, now you’ve swapped playing for presenting?
I’ve been very fortunate to work with a lot of my heroes. I remember meeting Sir Ian Botham, and Darren Gough – I was at his cricket academy when I was 12 or 13. But it’s not just players it’s broadcasters, too. I remember listening to Aggers (Jonathan Agnew) when I was that age. So being able to work with these guys, it’s incredible.
Have you come up against much negative feedback on social media through your work?
I think it’s something everyone has to manage when they are on-screen because there is a lot of negativity out there. It’s great that the BBC are taking a stance now, in partnership with Sky, because I think it needed to happen. Early on in my career I received quite a lot of negativity. I think being the only woman quite a lot of the time, and also because I was inexperienced. I think the mood is changing around females in sport. I think it is important to call things out when you are unfairly treated.
Your husband Richard Thomas is a musician. How did you two get together?
We met 10 years ago now in a bar in Soho. We were both on a night out. He’s working on his own stuff at the moment under the name RD Thomas and he also plays with Ben Howard. He’s a songwriter but he’s written a novel and a screenplay as well. I’m fortunate because he’s very flexible, which means he’s been able to come away with me. He’s become a cricket fan through me. He always enjoyed it but with us being together, quite often he’ll find himself in situations where he’s got legends around him. So he needs to understand cricket speak! And obviously I love his music, and it’s really cool that he’s been able to introduce me to new stuff as well. I think that’s why it works, because we are both interested in what the other one does.
Talking of happy couples, England cricketer Stuart Broad is set to marry The Saturdays’ Mollie King. Are you hoping to be buying a hat?
I know Stuart but I don’t know Mollie. To be honest, I’m not expecting an invite!
What has been your career highlight?
There’ve been a few pinch-me moments. Probably the 2009 World Cup Final was one of the most satisfying because I knew what a journey we’d been on to get there – from 2002 and not being a very good team to becoming the best team in the world.