Heath Streak, hailing from Rhodesia and later becoming a Zimbabwean, was a prominent figure in cricket, both as a player and a coach. He proudly represented and led the Zimbabwean national cricket team. According to his performance statistics, he stands out as the most accomplished bowler in Zimbabwe’s cricket history.
Bio/Wiki
Age-49 years
Height-1.84 m
Weight-75 kg (approx.)
Born -16 March 1974
Birthplace- Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Ful name- Heath Hilton Streak
Death- 22 August 2023
Death place-South Africa
Profession-Cricketer and Coach
Batting-Right-handed
Team- Kabul Zwanan
Date joined-10 November 1993 (Zimbabwe national cricket team)
Spouse-Nadine Streak
Nationality-Zimbabwean
Family
Born in Bulawayo, located in Matabeleland, Rhodesia (which is now known as Zimbabwe), Streak came from a family with a predominant history of engaging in ranching activities within the Bulawayo region.Denis Hilton Streak, born on June 21, 1949, is a retired Zimbabwean cricketer who competed at the first-class level.he is the father of Heath Streak, a former prominent cricketer from Zimbabwe. In addition to his cricket endeavors, Denis Streak also proudly represented Zimbabwe in the sport of lawn bowls.
Wife
Streak was united in marriage with Nadine Streak, and the couple welcomed a single son into their lives.
Education
Streak concluded his schooling at Rhodes Estate Preparatory School and Falcon College. His father, Denis Streak, shared his passion for cricket and was a first-class cricketer as well. Before embarking on his cricketing career, Streak obtained a junior hunter’s license.
Career
Domestic Career
Streak’s journey began with his first-class debut for Zimbabwe B against the Kent team on March 30, 1993, at Harare Sports Club. In a remarkable turn, during the 1995/96 season, he shared the Matabeleland team with his father Denis Streak in the Lonrho Logan Cup final against Mashonal and
Country Districts. This event marked the rare occurrence of a father and son participating in the same first-class match, a phenomenon not seen for over three decades. Their efforts led Matabeleland to claim victory in the 1996 Logan Cup championship.
He also stepped into the world of T20 cricket, making his debut for Warwickshire against Glamorgan on July 8, 2004. In 2006, Streak assumed the role of captain for Warwickshire with a two-year contract in hand. However, his captaincy tenure was short-lived. In April 2007, after just one appearance in the 2007 county season, he resigned as captain, expressing that his leadership responsibilities were adversely affecting his performance on the field. He was succeeded by Darren Maddy. Later that year, citing family reasons, Streak departed from Warwickshire at the conclusion of the 2007 season.
As the year ended in 2007, Streak’s journey took a new direction. He became part of the Ahmedabad Rockets in the controversial Indian Cricket League, a move that marked the end of his international cricket career.
International Career
Streak entered the international cricket scene with his One Day International (ODI) debut on November 10, 1993, against South Africa. A month later, in December 1993, he made his test debut during Zimbabwe’s tour of Pakistan in 1993/1994. He gained recognition with a remarkable performance in the 2nd Test at Rawalpindi (9–14 December 1993), where he took 8 wickets. His debut test series showcased his exceptional skills, securing him the Player of the Series award with an impressive tally of 22 wickets at an average of 13.54. This achievement marked the highest number of wickets taken by a Zimbabwean bowler in a test series.
As he progressed, Streak continued to leave his mark. In 1995, he achieved his best bowling figures against Pakistan, taking 6/90 in the first Test at Harare, which led Zimbabwe to an innings victory. He reached a significant milestone in January 1996, becoming the fastest Zimbabwean bowler to claim 50 test wickets in just 11 matches. Streak’s career was also highlighted by his leadership role, captaining Zimbabwe during a period of both cricketing success and political turmoil.
His tenure as captain had its challenges, including conflicts with the cricket board over pay and quotas. Nevertheless, Streak led his team to notable victories, such as Zimbabwe’s first-ever test win against India in 2001. His exceptional performance extended to the 2003 World Cup, where he captained Zimbabwe to the super sixes stage amidst political tensions. In 2004, Streak faced a controversial departure from the national team, only to be nominated for the ICC ODI Player of the Year in the same year.
Returning after a one-year hiatus, Streak continued his cricket journey, representing Zimbabwe and even participating in the Afro-Asia Cup. His international career came to an end in October 2005 when he retired from international cricket to assume the captaincy of the Warwickshire County Cricket Club, later captaining exiled Zimbabwean players in charity matches in England.
Coaching Career
In August 2009, Streak assumed the role of bowling coach for the Zimbabwe national cricket team. His responsibilities included mentoring young Zimbabwean fast bowlers and overseeing franchise cricket development. Notably, fast bowlers like Kyle Jarvis, Christopher Mpofu, Brian Vitori, and Shingirai Masakadza, who received his coaching, became integral members of the national squad.In 2010, he joined forces with former teammate Grant Flower to support the Zimbabwean team, with Flower focusing on batting and Streak on bowling, under the leadership of Alan Butcher.
Streak’s coaching journey continued, encompassing various roles and teams. However, his contract with Zimbabwe Cricket was not renewed in 2013 due to financial constraints. He embraced coaching positions with Bangladesh Cricket Board and the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association Academy, eventually becoming the head coach of the Zimbabwe national cricket team in October 2016, succeeding Dav Whatmore. Unfortunately, Zimbabwe’s failure to qualify for the 2019 World Cup led to Streak’s resignation in early 2018, amid controversies and allegations.
Subsequently, Streak took on consultancy roles for Scotland and Somerset, while also contributing as a bowling coach for various Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises. However, his cricketing career took a drastic turn when he received an 8-year ban from the ICC in April 2021 for violating anti-corruption policies. Streak was found to have provided insider information and associated with corrupt activities.
Parallel to his coaching endeavors, Streak established the Heath Streak Academy (renamed as Zimbabwe Youth Cricket Academy), aiming to nurture cricket talent in Zimbabwe. He resigned from the academy following the ICC ban.
In summary, Streak’s cricket journey encompassed coaching roles across different teams, but his career took a downturn with the ICC ban, ultimately leading to his departure from coaching roles and the academy he founded.
Retirement
In March 2005, Streak marked his return to Zimbabwe’s international cricket squad following a year-long break.He also participated as a member of the Africa XI team in the 2005 Afro-Asia Cup, taking part in a 3-match ODI series against Asia XI.
His international cricket journey culminated in October 2005 when Streak retired from the international scene. He then transitioned to a new role as the captain of Warwickshire County Cricket Club, a move that followed his prior involvement in county cricket with Hampshire. In addition to his responsibilities with Warwickshire, Streak also led his fellow Zimbabwean exiled players in the Red Lions cricket team, an outfit engaged in charitable matches in England.
Net Worth 2023
Heath Streak’s estimated net worth ranges between $1 million and $9 million.
Illness
On May 13, 2023, Zimbabwean senator David Coltart conveyed that Streak’s condition was of utmost severity. Reports from the media indicated that Streak had been medically determined to have advanced stage 4 colon and liver cancer, and his condition was described as critical.
Cause of Death
The renowned Zimbabwean cricketer, Heath Streak, passed away at the age of 49 on Tuesday, following an extended battle with cancer. He had been undergoing treatment in South Africa after being diagnosed with a combination of colon and liver cancer, according to statements from those close to him.
Henry Olonga, a former Zimbabwean fast bowler and Streak’s teammate for a long time, as well as the current Zimbabwean captain, Sean Williams, both took to the social media platform X (previously known as Twitter) to share their sorrow and convey their condolences. As of now, there has been no official statement issued by Heath Streak’s family.
Expressing his feelings, Olonga wrote, “We’re receiving sad news that Heath Streak has passed away. Rest in peace, legend of @ZimCricketv. You were the finest all-rounder we produced. It was an honor to play alongside you. We’ll meet on the other side when my time as a bowler concludes.”
Read Also:Alex Collins Biography