Heath Streak

Infobox Cricketer


nationality = Zimbabwean
country = Zimbabwe
country abbrev = ZIM
name = Heath Streak
picture = Cricket_no_pic.pngbatting style = Right hand bat
bowling style = Right arm fast medium
tests = 65
test runs = 1990
test bat avg = 22.35
test 100s/50s = 1/11
test top score = 127*
test overs = 2259.5
test wickets = 216
test bowl avg = 28.14
test 5s = 7
test 10s = 0
test best bowling = 6/73
test catches/stumpings = 17/-
ODIs = 189
ODI runs = 2943
ODI bat avg = 28.29
ODI 100s/50s = 0/13
ODI top score = 79*
ODI overs = 1578.0
ODI wickets = 239
ODI bowl avg = 29.82
ODI 5s = 1
ODI best bowling = 5/32
ODI catches/stumpings = 46/-
date = December 7
year = 2005
source = http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/zimbabwe/content/player/55761.html Cricinfo

Heath Hilton Streak (born March 16, 1974 in Bulawayo) is a Zimbabwean cricketer. He made his Test debut in Zimbabwe's tour of Pakistan 1993/1994 making his mark by taking 8 wickets in the 2nd Test at Rawalpindi (December 9-14, 1993). He won the Man of the series award in that series taking 22 wickets at an average of 13.54. He bettered his best bowling figures in 1995 when Pakistan toured Zimbabwe taking 6/90 in the first Test at Harare.

In 1995/96, Streak played in the same Matabeleland team as his 46-year-old father Denis in the final of the Lonrho Logan Cup against Mashonaland Country Districts; this was the first instance of a father and son playing in the same first-class match for more than thirty years.

In 2000/2001, he won 2 man of the series awards, first in Zimbabwe's tour of England and then in Bangladesh's tour of Zimbabwe.

He is the only Zimbabwean bowler to have taken over 100 Test wickets and one of only 2 Zimbabwean bowlers to have taken over 100 ODI wickets (the other being Grant Flower). There is little doubt that he is the best bowler to have played for Zimbabwe, with the ability to extract seam movement at a lively pace on even the deadest of wickets.

He retired from international cricket in October 2005 to become captain of Warwickshire County Cricket Club having previously played county cricket for Hampshire. He also captains his fellow exiled Anglo-African players from Zimbabwe in the Red Lions team, which plays charity games in England.

On 25 April 2007, Streak resigned as Warwickshire captain, saying captaining the side was affecting his on field abilities. He was replaced as captain by Darren Maddy. At the end of the 2007 season he left Warwickshire citing family reasons [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/warwickshire/content/story/309406.html Streak ends Warwickshire stint] ] .

Controversies

Heath Streak claimed in an interview in The Observer that he was faced with moral challenges in captaining Zimbabwe. He said that he was asked to tell white players that they were not talented enough and were to be replaced by black players [ [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/osm/story/0,,1337048,00.html Triumph and despair] ] .

References