Hours after tweeting Heath Streak has died, Henry Olonga quashes rumours, Says former Zimbabwe captain is alive

Heath Streak represented Zimbabwe in 65 tests and 189 ODIs in his 12 years long career.

After the news of the passing away of Heath Streak, the former captain and veteran all-rounder of the Zimbabwe team, at the age of 49 due to cancer, a wave of mourning is being witnessed across the cricket world. Meanwhile, amidst this, Henry Olonga, his former teammate who broke the news of Streak’s demise, has now claimed that Streak is alive, and he has confirmed this by sending him a message himself.

“I can confirm that rumours of the demise of Heath Streak have been greatly exaggerated. I just heard from him. The third umpire has called him back. He is very much alive folks.” tweeted Henry Olonga

Earlier Henry Olonga, Heath’s bowling colleague from their playing days, expressed his condolences on social media. He shared, ‘Sad news coming through that Heath Streak has crossed to the other side,’ in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. Olonga continued, ‘RIP legend. The greatest all-rounder we produced. It was a pleasure playing with you. See you on the other side when my bowling spell comes to an end.'”

Heath Streak: A Zimbabwean Cricketing Legend

Heath Streak, a prominent figure in Zimbabwe’s cricket history, held the status of one of their finest players and served as their captain from 2000 to 2004. With an impressive record of 65 Test matches and 189 one-day internationals, Streak’s influence was pivotal. Notably, he stands as the sole representative from his nation to achieve the milestone of 100 Test wickets, a testament to his remarkable skill, especially considering the challenges of an inconsistent bowling unit during his 12-year career.

A Prolific Bowler and Valuable Batsman

While his prowess was primarily associated with his bowling talents, Streak demonstrated his all-round capabilities by contributing valuably with the bat in the middle-order. Accumulating 1990 runs in Test matches and 2943 runs in ODIs, his cricketing aptitude extended beyond the boundaries of his specialty. A standout moment in his batting journey was his sole Test century, an unbeaten 127 runs, achieved against the West Indies in Harare.

Streak’s ascent in the cricketing realm took off with his debut against Pakistan in 1993. His rise was meteoric, and his second Test in Rawalpindi solidified his presence with an eight-wicket haul, promptly bouncing back from a wicketless debut in Karachi.

In 2005, Streak opted for retirement from international cricket, transitioning to the role of captain at Warwickshire with a two-year contract commencing in 2006. However, his captaincy tenure was cut short due to personal form challenges. Subsequently, he aligned himself with the Indian Cricket League (ICL) in 2007, effectively concluding his international career.

A Coaching Career Cut Short

Streak’s journey continued as he ventured into coaching, embracing diverse roles with teams such as Zimbabwe, Scotland, Bangladesh, Gujarat Lions, and Kolkata Knight Riders. Regrettably, his legacy took an unfortunate turn when he faced an eight-year ban from the ICC due to breaches related to anti-corruption regulations. This somber episode cast a shadow over his otherwise illustrious cricketing tale.

For more updates, follow Khel Now Cricket on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.