- Former cricket star now one of game’s best behind the microphone
- Has been hit hard by the passing of her good friend Jacob Walker
Isa Guha has been left devastated by the death of her longtime friend Jacob Walker, who passed away aged just 39 after making a big impact on her life when her cricket commentary career was in its infancy.
The BBC and Fox Sports star took to Instagram on Tuesday to mourn Walker as a ‘beautiful soul’ after first working with the TV producer/director in 2015.
‘There are people that come into your life that can have such a huge impact,’ Guha wrote of Walker, who died after a long battle with brain cancer.
‘Jacob was a beautiful soul. I first met him in 2015 – we worked on the Cricket World Cup for ESPN. He was my director and we were learning the ropes together.
‘In broadcast, it’s amazing when you find sync with your director and he absolutely was the calm and assured person in my ear at that time.
‘He was a huge player in making the WBBL [Women’s Big Bash League] what it was and worked on cricket and tennis with various different broadcasters.
Isa Guha (pictured) has made an emotional tribute to Aussie TV producer/director Jacob Walker after his tragic death from brain cancer
The cricket star turned TV commentator said Walker (pictured) was a ‘beautiful soul’ who had ‘such a huge impact’ on her life
‘Calm and assuring directors are gold and he was the assurance I needed always.
‘But I also knew the battles he was facing. In 2015 he had brain cancer – he fought so hard and for so long.
‘Calm, beautiful and kind is how I’ll remember him.’
Walker harked back to his first meeting with Guha in a post he made on X in July 2021, sharing a photo of them together with cricket legends Ian Chappell, Agit Agarkar and Michael Holding as they covered that year’s Cricket World Cup.
‘A good friend sent me this as a “cheer me up” today. A flashback to an amazing @ICC CWC back in ’15 for @ESPN,’ he wrote.
‘Such an honour working alongside Michael Holding, Ian Chappell, @isaguha & @imAgarkar. Not only cricket but life lessons & perspective.’
Guha replied to that post with, ‘Miss you Jacob! Keep being strong legend.’
Elsewhere on his X timeline, Walker posted a throwback photo showing him being treated in a Melbourne hospital along with the caption, ‘The Royal Children’s Hospital saved my life in ’88, ’02, ’03. An incredible place for four decades.’
He also shared photos and videos showing him with his young son and daughter, along with an update on how his cancer treatment was going in June 2020.
Pictured: A post Walker (back, second from right) made on X harking back to when he and Guha (bottom right) first worked together at the 2015 Cricket World Cup
Guha’s reply to the post showed the strong bond the pair shared
The Fox Sports and BBC commentator described her friend as ‘calm, beautiful and kind’
‘Two surgeries, recent radiotherapy and now the big one: CHEMO. 6-12 months (cycles) ahead with my thoughts of a rebuild back to where I belong. It kicks off next Friday. Let’s go get it,’ he wrote.
In March 2019 he posted a video from his hospital bed after major surgery on his head and told his followers, ‘Two days post-op now. I just wanted to reach out to everybody and say thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your messages, your love and support and prayers.
‘It’s been a bit of a rough period, this one. This surgery has caused me a few more issues than previously … I have a bit of bleeding internally and I’m on a lot of medications just to manage that,’ he said.
‘I’m so thankful when I check social media and every time I turn my phone on I have so many messages of support. I love you all and I can’t wait to get back out of here and continue on with my life.’
Walker became an ambassador for the Cancer Council after he was diagnosed with a brain tumour aged just 28 and underwent a five-hour operation that couldn’t remove all of the cancerous tissue.
He reacted to that news by setting himself the goal of running the New York Marathon just eight months after surgery – and lived that dream in November 2015.
