Heath Streak, certainly one of Zimbabwe’s biggest cricketers, died on Sunday aged 49, his spouse mentioned in a social media submit. He had been battling colon most cancers.
RIP | Zimbabwe cricket legend Heath Streak dies
“In the early hours of this morning, Sunday 3 September, the greatest love of my life and the father of my beautiful children, was carried to be with the angels from his home where he wished to spend his last days surrounded by his family and closest loved ones,” Nadine Streak wrote.
Streak was an impressive quick bowler and succesful batsman. He was a key member of Zimbabwe groups that had been aggressive in opposition to cricket’s greater nations within the late Nineties and early 2000s.
His cricket profession resulted in ignominy, nonetheless, when he was banned for eight years for breaching the International Cricket Council (ICC) anti-corruption code.
It was introduced in May this yr that Streak was critically ailing – and it was reported in August that he had died, following a message on social media from former team-mate Henry Olonga.
Streak himself was fast to say that he was nonetheless alive, however not earlier than quite a few tributes by former team-mates and opponents.
A strongly-built quick bowler, in a position to extract motion from unhelpful pitches, Streak took 236 wickets at a median of 28.14 in 65 Test matches.
No different Zimbabwean has taken greater than 80 Test wickets.
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He made 1,990 runs at 22.35 in Tests to face seventh on the nation’s all-time listing. His highest rating and solely century was 127 not out in opposition to the West Indies in Harare in 2003.
Streak took 237 wickets – 104 greater than his nearest rival – and scored 2 901 runs in 187 one-day internationals.
He typically battled nearly alone for his underdog nation in opposition to highly effective opponents.
His finest Test bowling efficiency was typical. He took six for 73 whereas India piled up a complete of 366 on the best way to a 10-wicket win in Harare in 2005.
Streak had two spells as Zimbabwe captain, interrupted by a dispute with Zimbabwe Cricket in 2001 over pay and racial quota points.
Heath Streak led Zimbabwe in 68 one-day internationals
The spotlight of his 4 wins in 21 Tests as captain was Zimbabwe’s first Test victory in opposition to India, in Harare in 2001.
He took seven wickets within the match – dismissing Sachin Tendulkar in each innings – and scored 40 runs within the first innings.
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He led Zimbabwe in 68 one-day internationals, together with the 2003 World Cup in southern Africa when Zimbabwe reached the Super Six stage.
He was sacked as captain in 2004 at a time of upheaval in Zimbabwe cricket when 15 main gamers rebelled in opposition to the administration.
This, in flip, led to a much-weakened staff quickly dropping their Test match standing.
He retired from worldwide cricket in 2005.
After a taking part in spell with English county Warwickshire, he turned Zimbabwe’s bowling coach in 2009. His teaching profession included stints in Bangladesh, India, England and Scotland.
He was Zimbabwe head coach from 2016 to 2018, when he was fired after the staff did not qualify for the 2019 World Cup.
He was banned for eight years by the ICC for passing on data and speak to particulars of gamers to an unnamed Indian man and accepting fee which included $35 000 in Bitcoin.
Streak accepted accountability for his actions, however mentioned he had by no means been concerned in match-fixing.
By (*49*) Lambley © Agence France-Presse
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