Isa Guha, the former England cricketer turned BBC presenter, has become a familiar face at Wimbledon since joining the broadcaster's coverage in 2022. The 40-year-old sportswoman is married to British musician Richard Thomas, frontman of the now-disbanded alternative rock band Brothers and Bones.
Marriage and Personal Life
Guha married Thomas in Cornwall in September 2018, sharing photos on X (formerly Twitter) with the caption: "It's been a challenging year but with this incredible human by my side I know I can get through anything." The wedding took place shortly after her mother received a cancer diagnosis. In a 2019 interview with The Telegraph, Guha explained: "We got her out of hospital and did a small, intimate ceremony, then the following week in Cornwall, Ebony [Rainford-Brent – Guha's former teammate] was on FaceTime to her throughout the whole wedding. She did get to see us get married."
Thomas, from Cornwall, was a member of Brothers and Bones, an acoustic-led alternative rock band that opened for acts like Ben Howard and Bastille. The band disbanded at the end of 2020 after ten years together. Guha praised her husband's support following her mother's death in January 2019, telling The Telegraph: "He was just incredible. I am super lucky to have him in my life."
Career Highlights
Born in Buckinghamshire in 1985 to parents who emigrated from Calcutta, India, in the 1970s, Guha balanced her sporting career with academics. She graduated with a degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from UCL and later earned an MPhil in neuroscience. She made history as the first South Asian woman to represent England in cricket, debuting internationally at age 17.
Guha played in the 2005 South Africa World Cup and the 2009 Australia World Cup. In 2009, she was named the ICC number one ranked bowler in the world. She retired from international cricket in 2012, transitioning to broadcasting. She joined ITV Sport in 2012, co-presenting cricket coverage, and later worked for Sky Sports and Fox. In 2020, she became the lead presenter of the BBC's test match and ODI highlights show.
Wimbledon Presenting Role
Guha first appeared on BBC's Wimbledon coverage in 2022. In 2023, Clare Balding took over from Sue Barker as the main presenter, with Guha praising Barker: "She's got an incredible warmth. When you watch her on television she feels like a friend." Guha added: "The ability to be there with Sue, see how she operates, the doyenne of sports broadcasting, and to be in Clare Balding's company and all these legends. It was a pretty amazing experience."
