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Tinashe Kusema
Deputy Sports Editor
HEATH STREAK died last weekend after losing a short, but painful battle with liver and colon cancer.
He was 49.
The news, of course, was announced and, more importantly, confirmed by his wife Nadine.
“In the early hours of this morning, Sunday the 3rd of September 2023, 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 wrote on social media.
Tributes have come from far and wide as a vast majority of his former teammates, opponents, friends, family and fans shared their favourite and most memorable Streak stories and moments.
Streak’s numbers do make for some interesting reading. Any journalist worth his or her salt has probably been rummaging through Streak’s career statistics in search of those little nuggets that best capture the man, the myth and the legend.
There are, of course, the more known records the former Zimbabwe captain and coach held, like Streak being the all-time leading wicket-taker for the Chevrons in Test cricket (216 wickets) and in ODI cricket (239 wickets).
He was the first and only Zimbabwean bowler to take over 100 Test wickets and one of only four local bowlers to take over 100 ODI wickets.
This is in addition to his overall statistics of 65 Test matches for Zimbabwe during which he amassed the 216 wickets with an economy of 2.69.
In the ODI format, Streak featured in 189 matches, taking 239 wickets at an economy of 4.51.
With the bat, he amassed 1 990 runs in the red-ball format at an average of 22.4.
What has flown under the radar is his unappreciated performance during Zimbabwe’s famous first-ever Test victory over Pakistan back in 1994/1995, and the unique partnership and shared history he had with Alistair Campbell.
While the win over Pakistan is best remembered for Andy and Grant Flower’s 269-run stand — which formed the basis of Zimbabwe’s innings and 64 runs victory — Streak was the chief wrecker with the ball in hand.
He finished that match with nine wickets for 105 runs, taking six for 90 during the first innings, where Pakistan amassed 322 all-out in reply to Zimbabwe’s declaration at 544 for four.
Andy Flower, then captain, enforced the follow-up, and Streak took three for 15 as Pakistan were bundled out for 154.
As it pertains to his deep-rooted connection with Campbell, I believe it is the 50-year-old who can best explain it. Campbell was a guest on Dean du Plessis’ podcast “Dean at Stumps” last week, during which the two of them shared their favourite memories and best anecdotes of the late Zimbabwean cricketer.
The 50-year-old went on to reveal how a group of Streak’s former teammates had banded together during his final months and the fact that the cricketer was at peace in his final moment.
That is, if such a thing exists.
“It is a huge blow,” said Campbell on the passing away of his dear friend.
“However, it is not something that came suddenly as John Rennie alerted us, back in February, that Streak was struggling with his colon (cancer) and he was receiving some treatment.
“If there is such a thing as a peaceful passing, at least, he was able to be home on the farm and surrounded by friends and family.
“At least, he was able to spend some time with them and communicate with them before his passing.
“So, if there is any light in all this, then it is Heath (Streak) was able to spend his last days in the bush, at home, surrounded by his family,” he said.
Campbell and Streak were connected at the hip during their playing days and apart from sharing the dressing room, they captained each other at different stages of their careers.
Campbell described Streak as a captain’s dream, during one of his many stints with the armband.
Of the many games they played together, and he was captained by Streak, the New Zealand series win of 2001 stood out.
The nations met in a one-off Test match that ended in a draw, and a three-match ODI series where Zimbabwe won 2-1.
For Campbell, it was the third and final ODI which turned out to be the decider that stood out. Streak played a captain’s innings as he made an unbeaten 79 runs off 67 balls and took two wickets for 34 runs.
“I do remember the innings and have actually been reminiscing about that series over the last couple of days.
“We were dead and buried in Auckland, and needed something six or seven runs an over during that chase. It was unheard of during those days, but then Streak came to the crease and shared a partnership with Brian Murphy.
“They played brilliant shots, and Streak made 70-odd and won us the game from nowhere.
“That innings was yet another testament to his batting prowess; everyone talks about him as a bowler, but Streak, the all-rounder, was world-class as well.
“His fielding too great, sliding everywhere and bullet arm.
“You put all those three together and you will see that he truly was a world-class all-rounder,” he said.
Campbell also sang praises about Streak’s athleticism, talent and work ethic.
“He was just a natural athlete, he played fullback, don’t forget, for Zimbabwe at Under-19 rugby level before he made the commitment to cricket.
“He was a big unit but he was an athlete.
“Most fast bowlers are a liability in the field, we were in an era where bowlers stopped balls with the boot and threw with an under-arm to protect their shoulders.
“Streak was just different, sliding around, throwing bullets from the outfield and then bowling afterwards.
“Some might say he was a game changer in the field for bowlers,” he said.
On captaining Streak, Campbell described as a “dream” as he cherished having a world-class bowler and someone dependable under his charge.
He even confessed to over-relying on the cricketer. He wanted to use him all the time — to win games, get back into some or turn the tide in his favour.
Campbell does, however, take credit for turning Streak into an all-rounder as “he lost some of his speed, and started concentrating more on his batting” under his charge.
The biggest little nugget came at the very end of the interview during which we learnt of the unappreciated Campbell-Streak combination or partnership.
Campbell has a slew of records during his illustrious career, with one being that he stands as the only Zimbabwean with over 5 000 runs and 50 dismissals (catches) in One Day Internationals.
He has 60 catches and 17 of them came off the bowling Streak while in the slip position.
It is a point of pride for him.
Online Reporter