Legendary Zimbabwe pacer Heath Streak passed away on September 3, 2023 at the age of 49.
Former Zimbabwean skipper and champion all-rounder, Heath Streak, tragically passed away on Sunday, September 3rd. The heartbreaking news of his demise was shared by his wife, Nadine Streak, on social media. Streak is widely recognized as one of the finest players to emerge from the African nation, and his exceptional skills as an all-rounder earned him global acclaim. He played a pivotal role in Zimbabwe's golden era during the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Let us delve into the remarkable journey of his career:
1. Test debut
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Heath Streak made his Test debut in 1993 during Zimbabwe's tour of Pakistan. Unfortunately, the match proved to be quite forgettable for him, as he failed to take a single wicket and scored a golden duck in his first Test innings.
2. ODI debut
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Heath Streak made his One Day International (ODI) debut in 1993 during the Hero Cup in India. However, the match against South Africa ended with no result, and Streak was only able to bowl four overs during his debut.
3. Zimbabwe's highest wicket taker
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Streak went on to have an illustrious career, representing his African nation in 65 Tests and 189 ODIs. Over the course of a decade, he achieved remarkable milestones, becoming the first Zimbabwean bowler to claim 100 Test wickets. By the end of his career, he had amassed an impressive total of 216 Test wickets, the highest ever recorded for his country. Additionally, he achieved seven five-wicket hauls, showcasing his exceptional skill and consistency.
In the realm of ODIs, Streak's prowess was equally remarkable. He claimed an impressive 239 wickets, with his best performance being a remarkable 5/32.
4. Batting stats
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Streak was not only a skilled bowler but also a proficient batsman, having achieved a Test century during his career. Throughout 102 Test innings, he accumulated an impressive total of 1,990 runs, averaging 22.35. Alongside his solitary century, he also achieved 11 fifties. Notably, his remarkable century was achieved against the formidable West Indies team.
In One Day Internationals (ODIs), Streak showcased his batting prowess in 159 innings, amassing a total of 2,943 runs at an average of 28.29. Although he fell short of reaching a century in the 50-over format, he did manage to score an impressive 13 fifties, with his highest score being an unbeaten 79.
5. Captaincy tenure
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Streak also had the honor of captaining his side from 2000 to 2004 in various phases. However, his captaincy tenure was not very successful due to political tensions and conflicts between players and the board that arose in early 2000s Zimbabwe.
Nevertheless, Streak captained in 21 Tests, winning four (the most for his country) out of the 21 games he led, and losing 11. In ODIs, he captained in 68 games, winning 18 and losing 47.
6. Coaching stint
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He has successfully coached teams in various countries, including Bangladesh from 2014 to 2016 and Gujarat Lions in the 2016 and 2017 editions of the IPL. However, his heart always remained in his homeland, Zimbabwe, where he took over as the head coach in October 2016.
Streak's primary objective was to ensure that the Zimbabwean team qualified for the highly anticipated 2019 World Cup. Unfortunately, their journey took an unexpected turn during the 2018 World Cup qualifier held in Zimbabwe. The team suffered a devastating loss to the UAE, causing them to miss out on the prestigious tournament. As a consequence, Streak and his entire coaching staff were dismissed from their positions.
