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4 stars 5 questions

May 18, 2009

We ask four of our favourite cricketing stars the same five questions. See what Claire Taylor, Isa Guha, Holly Colvin and Rachael Heyhoe-Flint have to say.

Isa Guha

What do you love most about cricket?

I love playing as part of a team and the fact that there are so many different aspects to it…batting, bowling and fielding. I like that it is challenging mentally as well as physically. I like that it is played worldwide and brings people together from different types of backgrounds and that there is also a great deal of respect and fair play in the game.

What other sport would you chose if you couldn’t have played cricket?

Badminton – I played for my county until I was 20 but that’s when cricket really took over and I had to give up.

What has been your favourite moment on the pitch to date?

Winning the World Cup! Nothing can beat that feeling of being on top of the world. Four years worth of hard work and dedication had gone into that win and as soon as it happened we were able to release all of our emotions. It was a gruelling tournament not just physically but mentally too and to win with such a brilliant group of people, who I regard as my family away from home, was thoroughly emotional.

If you could go on any reality TV show what would it be?

Strictly Come Dancing – I did ballet and tap when I was younger but nothing choreographed since then. I love to dance and although I know they go through a tough training regime on the show I think it would be nice to try something different.

Who is your sporting hero?

Darren Gough, for his charisma and the way he always made something happen when he was on the pitch. I try and emulate this when I play.

Claire Taylor

What do you love most about cricket?

I love the fact that cricket has so many different skills for players to learn and perhaps excel at. It’s also the perfect blend of a team sport environment but with massive opportunities for individual performance.

What other sport would you chose if you couldn’t have played cricket?

I used to play hockey to a pretty decent level. I wonder what might have happened if I went to a different university where hockey was played to a higher standard.

What has been your favourite moment on the pitch to date?

From an individual perspective, scoring the winning runs in the Ashes test match (between England and Australia) in Australia in early 2008. From a team perspective watching Holly Colvin and Nicky Shaw’s partnership which brought us the ICC Women’s World Cup in 2009.

If you could go on any reality TV show what would it be?

Something to do with cooking; Masterchef when I’m feeling creative, Ready Steady Cook when I’m not!

Who is your sporting hero?

From the world of cricket, Ricky Ponting. From outside cricket Dee Caffari for her amazing solo achievements in a boat!

Holly Colvin

What do you love most about cricket?

I love taking wickets; sending someone back to the pavilion is so satisfying. But also the social side, everyone is so different off the pitch and I’ve met some amazing people through cricket.

What other sport would you chose if you couldn’t have played cricket?

Either squash or hockey as I played them both to a pretty good level at school.  I missed them both so much over the winter whilst I was in Sydney.

What has been your favourite moment on the pitch to date?

Easily hitting the winning runs to win the World Cup.

If you could go on any reality TV show what would it be?

Strictly Come Dancing…because I’d be able to get fitter and do something that I’ve never done before, as I’m really not a very good dancer.

Who is your sporting hero?

I really admire Jane Tomlinson as although she had cancer she still completed the London Marathon three times, the London Triathlon twice, the New York Marathon once and cycled across Europe, the United States and Africa.  She had no fear, and battled through an illness to raise money for charity.

Rachel Heyhoe-Flint

What do you love most about cricket?

I love the intricacies of captaining, it’s almost like a game of chess – and I still captain in my mind when watching Test cricket, and I always win!

What other sport would you chose if you couldn’t have played cricket?

I would have chosen golf had I not selected cricket. I managed to get down to a handicap of 5 after four years of playing but I am now a very flexible 13 handicap!

What has been your favourite moment on the pitch to date?

It must be winning the first ever women’s match at Lord’s in 1976 – beating Australia by eight wickets and finishing 17 not out.

If you could go on any reality TV show what would it be?

I would refuse to go on a reality TV show, I can’t stand the hype around them. Unless of course it was Strictly Cricket!

Who is your sporting hero?

My sporting hero would be the late Colin Cowdrey, one of the great gentlemen of cricket. Sporting heroine would be US golfing supremo Nancy Lopez.

Louise Hudson, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine

Photo credits: Getty Images and The Lords Taverners

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