Heath Streak passes away at 49

Former Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak, who played 254 international matches between 1993 and 2005, has passed away at the age of 49. Streak’s wife, Nadine, took to Facebook to confirm the news of her husband’s demise. Streak passed away in the early hours of September 3 (Sunday) after losing his long-standing battle with cancer. 

“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 Streak, Heath Streak’s wife, wrote on Facebook. 

Less than a week ago, rumors started to float that Streak had passed away, but they were quashed by the man himself. However, the news of Streak’s demise has now been made official by his family.

Regarded one of Zimbabwe’s greatest ever cricketers, Streak took a total of 475 international wickets for his country. He is, as things stand, the runaway highest wicket-taker for Zimbabwe in both ODIs and Tests. 

An out-and-out all-rounder, Streak also scored a total of 4,933 international runs in Zimbabwe colours, posting 25 fifty-plus scores across formats. He scored a century too, his sole international ton coming in Harare against West Indies in 2003.

Streak also captained Zimbabwe across 89 international matches post 2000. He led his country in the home World Cup in 2003, where Zimbabwe famously reached the Super Six stage of the competition.