Vusumuzi Dube
Brandon Moyo , Sports Reporter
FORMER Chevrons captain and head coach, Heath Streak is said to be seriously ill and fighting for his life in a Johannesburg hospital in South Africa.
The 49-year-old former fast bowler is believed to be suffering from colon and liver cancer and was in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a hospital in Johannesburg after a severe chest infection.
Former Education Minister, David Coltart, broke the news on Streak’s welfare on his Twitter page yesterday morning.
In a message that the Zimbabwe Cricket great is alleged to have posted on a WhatsApp group, Streak said that due to the chest infection, he cannot start treatment despite tests having been done to determine cancer stage and type.
“Howzit guys, sorry for the late message. Life in turmoil. I have had positive colon and liver cancer tests.
Oncologists in SA done extensive tests to diagnose stage, type of cancer and proposed treatment plan. Sadly, a severe chest infection put me in ICU in Jhb (Johannesburg) and until sorted, can’t see the Oncologist to start treatment,” read the message.
Streak, a lion-hearted fast bowler with immense stamina and strength who is also Zimbabwe’s all-time leading wicket taker in international cricket is confident he will fight through and beat the deadly disease as there has been some progress.
“I have moved from ICU to general ward which is great progress. I will fight this and beat it. Had overwhelming support, please understand I am swamped with messages so tough to answer. Will ask updates to be shared so you are all in loop,” he said.
His unwavering skill to bowl outswing pace saw him become the first Zimbabwean to reach 100 Test wickets. He first broke into the senior national side in the 1993/94 Test series against Pakistan just after completing his secondary education at Falcon College in Esigodini, Matabeleland South Province.
He went on to finish his illustrious career with 216 Test wickets, and 239 scalps in One Day Internationals (ODIs).
Streak was also an extremely capable batsman, who finished with one Test ton and 11 half centuries. His highest score in the format is 127 runs not out while in ODIs, his highest is an unbeaten 79 runs. He was first appointed Chevrons skipper in 2000 before he resigned and was reappointed to the role in 2002.
In April 2004 he quit after the Zimbabwe board refused to give him guarantees over selection.
After a bitter standoff with the board, Streak finally returned to the fold in March 2005 and was immediately restored to a struggling side.
He was appointed captain of Warwickshire for the 2006 season after signing a two-year contract, but quit the captaincy one match into the 2007 season.
When he decided to call time on his playing career, Streak went into coaching. However, his coaching career had always been about playing a supporting role.
He was once the Chevrons’ bowling coach, but it was his stint as bowling coach of Bangladesh that brought him great success. Bangladesh scored some great victories over the likes of South Africa in the one-day game and also whitewashed Zimbabwe in the Test and one-day series during Streak’s time with the Asian side.
In October 2016, Streak was hired as Chevrons head coach, taking over from the legendary South African fast bowler, Makhaya Ntini, who served in an interim role after Dav Whatmore was sacked that June before he was dismissed in 2018 after Zimbabwe failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time.
Well-wishing messages have been pouring in for the Zimbabwean great who became the first from the country to make it to the Lord’s Cricket Ground honours board after an impressive figures of 6-87 in 2000 against England. — Follow on Twitter @brandon_malvin
Online Reporter