In the aftermath of battling liver and colon cancer, Heath Streak, a former Zimbabwe cricket captain and the country’s all-time leading wicket-taker, passed away at the age of 49.
“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,” his wife, Nadine Streak, wrote on social media.
As reported by ESPN, Heath Streak had been undergoing specialized treatment at a hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa, on a biweekly basis since May.
Heath Streak, renowned for his remarkable fast bowling skills and batting prowess, played a pivotal role in Zimbabwean cricket teams that competed competitively against the sport’s larger nations in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Unfortunately, his cricketing career came to an ignominious end in 2021 when he was banned for eight years for violating the International Cricket Council (ICC) Anti-Corruption Code.
In May of this year, it was announced that Streak was seriously ill, and in August, reports of his demise circulated following a social media post by former teammate Henry Olonga. Streak swiftly clarified that he was still alive, but not before numerous former teammates and opponents paid tribute to him.
Streak, one of Zimbabwe’s cricketing greats, was a robust fast bowler capable of extracting movement from challenging pitches. He amassed 236 wickets at an average of 28.14 in 65 Test matches, a record unmatched by any other Zimbabwean cricketer who took more than 80 Test wickets. He also contributed 1,990 runs with an average of 22.35 in Tests, including his highest score of 127 (not out) against the West Indies in Harare in 2003.
In One-Day Internationals (ODIs), Streak claimed 237 wickets, surpassing his closest competitor by 104 wickets. He also scored 2,901 runs in 187 ODIs.
Among his memorable Test performances, his six for 73 against India, even as they posted a formidable total of 366, stands out. This performance led Zimbabwe to a 10-wicket victory in Harare in 2005.
Streak served two terms as Zimbabwe’s captain, with a brief interruption due to a dispute with Zimbabwe Cricket in 2001 regarding pay and racial quota issues. One of his notable captaincy achievements was Zimbabwe’s first Test victory against India in Harare in 2001. He took seven wickets in the match, including dismissing Sachin Tendulkar in both innings and contributing 40 runs in the first innings.
Streak led Zimbabwe in 68 ODIs, including the 2003 World Cup in Southern Africa, where Zimbabwe advanced to the Super Six stage. His tenure as captain ended in 2004 during a period of upheaval in Zimbabwe Cricket when 15 leading players rebelled against the administration, leading to a temporary loss of Test-playing status for the weakened team.
He retired from international cricket in 2005. Subsequently, after his final stint as a player with the English county Warwickshire, he embarked on a coaching career. His coaching journey included roles in Bangladesh, India, England, and Scotland.
Streak served as Zimbabwe’s head coach from 2016 to 2018, but he was dismissed from the position when the team failed to qualify for the 2019 World Cup.
In a significant setback to his career, Streak received an eight-year ban from the ICC for sharing information and player contact details with an undisclosed individual in India. He accepted responsibility for his actions but maintained that he had never been involved in match-fixing.