Heath Streak, former Zimbabwe captain and the nation’s all-time main wicket-taker, has died on the age of 49 after battling liver and colon most cancers.
“Within the early hours of this morning, Sunday, 3 September, the best love of my life and the daddy of my lovely kids, was carried to be with the angels from his residence the place he wished to spend his final days surrounded by his household and closest family members,” his spouse, Nadine Streak wrote on social media.
ESPN reported that he had been receiving specialist therapy at a Johannesburg hospital in South Africa on a bi-weekly foundation since Could.
Streak was an impressive quick bowler and succesful batsman. He was a key member of Zimbabwe groups that had been aggressive in opposition to cricket’s greater nations within the late Nineties and early 2000s.
Actually unhappy information of the passing away of Zimbabwe’s legendary cricketer #HeathStreak. Having fought my very own battle with most cancers, I do know the power it takes.
He was one of many nicest guys I encountered alongside my journey and an excellent stronger human being.
My prayers for the… pic.twitter.com/d637dVcSWA
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) September 3, 2023
In 2021, his cricket profession led to ignominy, nonetheless, when he was banned for eight years for breaching the Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC) anticorruption code.
It was introduced in Could this 12 months that Streak was significantly ailing, 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 say that he was nonetheless alive, however not earlier than quite a few former teammates and opponents paid tribute to him.
One among Zimbabwe’s biggest
A strongly-built quick bowler, in a position to extract motion from unhelpful pitches, Streak took 236 wickets at a mean of 28.14 in 65 Check matches. No different Zimbabwean has taken greater than 80 Check wickets.
He made 1,990 runs at 22.35 in Checks to face seventh on the nation’s all-time checklist. His highest rating and solely century was 127, not out in opposition to the West Indies in Harare in 2003.
Streak took 237 wickets – 104 greater than his nearest rival – and scored 2,901 runs in 187 one-day internationals.
His finest Check bowling efficiency was typical. He took six for 73 whereas India piled up a complete of 366 on the best 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 points.
The spotlight of his 4 wins in 21 Checks as captain was Zimbabwe’s first Check victory in opposition to India, in Harare in 2001.
He took seven wickets within the match, dismissing Sachin Tendulkar in each innings and scored 40 runs within the first innings.
He led Zimbabwe in 68 one-day internationals, together with the 2003 World Cup in southern Africa when Zimbabwe reached the Tremendous Six stage.
He was sacked as captain in 2004 at a time of upheaval in Zimbabwe cricket when 15 main gamers rebelled in opposition to the administration.
This, in flip, led to a much-weakened staff briefly shedding their Check match standing.
He retired from worldwide cricket in 2005.
After a enjoying spell with English county Warwickshire, he turned Zimbabwe’s bowling coach in 2009. His teaching profession included stints in Bangladesh, India, England and Scotland.
He was Zimbabwe head coach from 2016 to 2018, when he was fired after the staff didn’t qualify for the 2019 World Cup.
He was banned for eight years by the ICC for passing on info and phone particulars of gamers to an unnamed Indian man and accepting fee which included $35,000 in Bitcoin.
Streak accepted accountability for his actions, however mentioned he had by no means been concerned in match-fixing.
