Zimbabwe great Heath Streak dead at 49
Cricket
Heath Streak, one of Zimbabwe’s greatest cricketers, died yesterday aged 49, his wife said in a social media post. He had been battling colon and liver cancer.
“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.
A family member told AFP Streak died on his cattle farm 55 km north east of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second most populous city.
“Heath had travelled to South Africa several times each month for treatment. At home, he spent much of his time fishing and farming,” said the member, who requested anonymity.
Streak was an outstanding fast bowler and capable batsman. He was a key member of Zimbabwe teams that were competitive against cricket’s bigger nations in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
His cricket career ended in ignominy, however, when he was banned for eight years for breaching the International Cricket Council (ICC) anti-corruption code.
In a tribute yesterday, former teammate Henry Olonga wrote on Facebook: “RIP Streaky. You were a titan.”
On X (formerly Twitter), several former India batting stars also paid tribute to Streak.
“He was a fierce competitor and led Zimbabwe admirably. May God give strength to the bereaved family,” wrote VVS Laxman.
Virender Sehwag wrote: “He was a prominent figure in the rise of Zimbabwe cricket in the late 90s and early 2000s, and very competitive.”
A strongly-built fast bowler, able to extract movement from unhelpful pitches, Streak took 236 wickets at an average of 28.14 in 65 Test matches.
No other Zimbabwean has taken more than 80 Test wickets.
He made 1,990 runs at 22.35 in Tests to stand seventh on the country’s all-time list. His highest score and only century was 127 not out against the West Indies in Harare in 2003.
Streak took 237 wickets – 104 more than his nearest rival – and scored 2,901 runs in 187 one-day internationals.
He often battled almost alone for his underdog nation against powerful opponents.
His best Test bowling performance was typical. He took six for 73 while India piled up a total of 366 on the 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 issues.
– Sport24.com
“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.
A family member told AFP Streak died on his cattle farm 55 km north east of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second most populous city.
“Heath had travelled to South Africa several times each month for treatment. At home, he spent much of his time fishing and farming,” said the member, who requested anonymity.
Streak was an outstanding fast bowler and capable batsman. He was a key member of Zimbabwe teams that were competitive against cricket’s bigger nations in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
His cricket career ended in ignominy, however, when he was banned for eight years for breaching the International Cricket Council (ICC) anti-corruption code.
In a tribute yesterday, former teammate Henry Olonga wrote on Facebook: “RIP Streaky. You were a titan.”
On X (formerly Twitter), several former India batting stars also paid tribute to Streak.
“He was a fierce competitor and led Zimbabwe admirably. May God give strength to the bereaved family,” wrote VVS Laxman.
Virender Sehwag wrote: “He was a prominent figure in the rise of Zimbabwe cricket in the late 90s and early 2000s, and very competitive.”
A strongly-built fast bowler, able to extract movement from unhelpful pitches, Streak took 236 wickets at an average of 28.14 in 65 Test matches.
No other Zimbabwean has taken more than 80 Test wickets.
He made 1,990 runs at 22.35 in Tests to stand seventh on the country’s all-time list. His highest score and only century was 127 not out against the West Indies in Harare in 2003.
Streak took 237 wickets – 104 more than his nearest rival – and scored 2,901 runs in 187 one-day internationals.
He often battled almost alone for his underdog nation against powerful opponents.
His best Test bowling performance was typical. He took six for 73 while India piled up a total of 366 on the 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 issues.
– Sport24.com
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