Bulawayo: The cricketing world is in mourning as Zimbabwean cricket legend Heath Streak, renowned for his exceptional contributions to the sport, has sadly passed away at the age of 49. The news was confirmed by his wife, Nadine Streak, through a social media post, leaving fans and fellow cricketers in grief.
Heath Streak, a towering figure in the history of Zimbabwean cricket, leaves behind a legacy that will forever be etched in the annals of the game. With a career spanning both as a pace bowler and an all-rounder, Streak’s impact on the cricketing world was profound.
Over the course of his illustrious career, Heath Streak donned the Zimbabwean national colors in 65 Test matches and 189 One Day Internationals (ODIs). His remarkable feat of being Zimbabwe’s highest wicket-taker in both formats is a testament to his bowling prowess, amassing an impressive tally of 216 wickets in Tests and 239 in ODIs.
Among Streak’s notable achievements was becoming the first Zimbabwean cricketer to claim 100 wickets in both Test and ODI formats. His name is also synonymous with the rare distinction of achieving the dual milestone of 100 Test wickets and 1000 Test runs, alongside accumulating 2000 runs and securing 200 wickets in ODIs.
What set Streak apart was his exceptional ability to contribute with both bat and ball. His career statistics speak volumes, amassing 1990 Test runs with a highest score of 127* and 2943 runs in ODIs at an average of 28.29, underscoring his versatility as a true all-rounder.
Streak’s journey as captain was marked by a mix of triumphs and challenges. He led Zimbabwe to its historic first-ever overseas Test series victory with a remarkable 2-1 win against New Zealand in 2001. However, his tenure as captain was marked by fluctuations and conflicts with senior players and the cricket board.
Following his retirement from international cricket, Heath Streak continued to contribute to the sport as a coach and mentor. He served as the bowling coach for the Zimbabwe national team from 2009 to 2013 and again from 2016 to 2018. Additionally, he took up the role of bowling coach for the IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders in 2018.
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