Cricket is too hard to leave!
Cricket is a game of uncertainty and by now we all know that, don’t we? But there’s is something about this game that once you get associated with it you don’t want to part your ways from it. I’m not saying this but history is! Here are a few women who even after ending their on-field innings are contributing to the cricketing world.
1. Anjum Chopra
The left handed batswoman who has played 12 tests and 116 ODIs was one of the greatest player India ever witnessed. With the batting average of about 31.38 when she declared her retirement in 2012 every cricket fan was upset but little did they know, that their superstar was preparing for her second innings. Not only is she a great commentator but also host a YouTube channel in which she interviews women cricketers. The Padma Shri and Arjuna Award receiver has always had the objective of supporting and promoting female cricket, and she is doing so!
2. Isa Guha
I’m sure every Indian Premier League fan knows who Isa Guha is, but if you don’t, I’ll introduce her to you. The right-arm fast-medium bowler, who is one of the commentator of IPL has played for England from the age of 17. She was ranked as the number one bowler in women’s ODI by ICC in 2008 and was also a part of the world cup winning team. Since her retirement, she has worked with BBC sports website as a columnist and an occasional test match summariser. Currently working with Sky Sports as a commentator for England and Pakistan Test matches and has recently joined FOX sports network as a commentator to cover Australian Cricket.
3. Lisa Sthalekar
The Australian stalwart Lisa, was born in Pune and was adopted by Haren and Sue Sthalekar and brought to Australia. Started her cricketing career in 1997, she has been a part of four world cup wins across both T20 and ODI. Also, she was a part of Australian team which won Ashes in 2001 and 2011.
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She is undoubtedly one of the greatest player the game has ever witnessed. Even after her retirement she continues to serve the cricketing world by being a commentator for IPL and BBL. Not only is she a commentator but has also handled coaching role within Cricket NSW.
4. Mel Jones
An Australian player who was born in England started her international career in the year 1997. She has played 5 test and 61 ODI matches for Australia with a batting average in 20s. She has been a part of lot of domestic tournaments as well. After her retirement, she continued her passion towards cricket the only difference that this time she was not playing but commentating.
She has been a part of the commentary panel of Indian Premier League, Women’s Big Bash League, Big Bash League, Ashes, Pakistan Super League, ABC Radio, Women’s T20 international which was covered by Channel 9 and recently she has signed the contract with Fox sports. Her cricketing career wasn’t that great but her commentating career is definitely unquestionable!
5. Charlotte Edwards
The English cricketer who has had a career of about 20 years is regarded as G.O.A.T (greatest of all time) She has been captain to the England team and has lead them to 3 Ashes (2008, 2013 & 2014) and World Cup/World T20 double win. She has the ability to bat as well as bowl. She’s been awarded as both ICC player of the year in 2008 and Wisden Cricketer of the year in 2014. She understands the game like nobody else does, hence has several records on her name. She in fact was the first cricketer to score 2500 runs in T20 international. After announcing her retirement last year (2017) she has considered commentating as her link to be associated with the game. And as always she’s doing justice to her job .
6. Sana Mir
Born in the Abbottabad district of the Hazara region in Pakistan, she has played 226 international matches including 137 as the captain. She led her team to its first-ever tournament win when they went on to play Sri Lanka in both ODI and T20I. Making her international debut at the age of 19, she became the first-ever female cricketer to be awarded the PCB Woman Cricketer of the year. She became the first Pakistani woman to take 100 wickets during the 2017 Women’s World Cup Qualifier. She also became the first-ever woman cricketer having played 100 T2Os for Pakistan.
Post her retirement from cricket, she has been actively involved as an expert and commentator in domestic events and the Pakistan Super League. She has been a part of the commentary panel during the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.
7. Marina Iqbal
Making her debut in the year 2009 and having played 78 international matches, her moment of pride came in when she smashed 69 off 123 balls against Sri Lanka in an ODI which helped the team to chase 180 runs. Her knock against Sri Lanka remains to be her best score as a batter. She is currently an active member of the PCB’s all-women selection committee.
The right-arm medium-fast bowler became the first Pakistan woman cricketer turned commentator in the country commentary in the Pakistan and West Indies women series in 2019, as well as the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy and the National T20 the same year, and radio commentary for the PSL and the National T20
8. Urooj Mumtaz Khan
Born in Karachi, she graduated from a Dental College, the former Pakistani cricketer is also a dentist by profession. She captained the Pakistan Team during the 2009 World Cup and has played a test, 38 ODIs, and 9 T20is in her career. Her career-best bowling figures stand at 5/33 in ODIs. She has been heading the PCB’s women’s selection committee since 2019.
She joined the commentary panel during the Pakistan Super League, a men’s tournament, and became the first Pakistani woman to do so. She was the commentator for the men’s ODI between Zimbabwe and Pakistan in Rawalpindi.
We will keep on adding more personalities to this list as they make their shift into the commentary.