Heath Streak, one in all Zimbabwe’s best cricketers, died on Sunday aged 49, his spouse mentioned in a social media put up. He had been battling colon and liver cancer.
“In the early hours of this morning, Sunday, September 3, 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.
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The nice cricket died on his farm
A member of the family informed AFP Streak died on his cattle farm 55 kilometres (34 miles) northeast of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second most populous metropolis.
“Heath had travelled to South Africa several times each month for treatment. At home, he spent much of his time fishing and farming,” mentioned the member, who requested anonymity.
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Streak was an impressive quick bowler and succesful batsman. He was a key member of Zimbabwe groups that had been aggressive towards cricket’s greater nations within the late Nineteen Nineties and early 2000s.
His cricket profession led to ignominy, nonetheless, when he was banned for eight years for breaching the International Cricket Council (ICC) anti-corruption code.
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Streak was introduced in poor health in May
It was introduced in May this yr that Streak was significantly in poor health — and it was reported in August that he had died following a message on social media from former teammate Henry Olonga.
Streak himself was fast to claim that he was nonetheless alive, however not earlier than quite a few tributes by former teammates and opponents. In a tribute on Sunday, Olonga wrote on Facebook: “RIP Streaky. You were a titan.”
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Zimbabwe Cricket chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani hailed Streak as a “true legend” in a press release. “He played with passion and spirit and was nothing less than an inspirational figure who raised our flag high and touched lives within the sport and beyond.”
On X (previously Twitter), a number of former India batting stars additionally paid tribute to Streak. “He was a fierce competitor and led Zimbabwe admirably. May God give strength to the bereaved family,” wrote VVS Laxman.
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Is there any Zimbabwean with excellent achievements like him?
Virender Sehwag known as Streak “very competitive.” A strongly-built quick bowler, capable of 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.
He made 1,990 runs at 22.35 in Tests to face seventh on the nation’s all-time checklist. His highest rating and solely century was 127, not out towards the West Indies in Harare in 2003.
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Streak took 237 wickets — 104 greater than his nearest rival – and scored 2,901 runs in 187 one-day internationals. He usually battled virtually alone for his underdog nation towards highly effective opponents.
His greatest Test bowling efficiency was typical. He took six for 73 whereas India piled up a complete of 366 on the way in which 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.
The spotlight of his 4 wins in 21 Tests as captain was Zimbabwe’s first Test victory towards India in Harare in 2001. He took seven wickets within the match — dismissing Sachin Tendulkar in each innings — and scored 40 within the first innings.
He was as soon as a captain
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 towards the administration.
This, in flip, led to a much-weakened group quickly shedding their Test match standing. He retired from worldwide cricket in 2005. After a enjoying spell with English county Warwickshire, he grew to become Zimbabwe’s bowling coach in 2009.
His teaching profession included stints in Bangladesh, India, England and Scotland. He was Zimbabwe’s head coach from 2016 to 2018 when he was fired after the group didn’t qualify for the 2019 World Cup.
He was banned for eight years by the ICC for passing on info and speak to particulars of gamers to an unnamed Indian man and accepting fee, which included $35,000 in Bitcoin. Streak accepted duty for his actions however mentioned he had by no means been concerned in match-fixing.
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