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Heath Streak

Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE Cricket continues to lose former players who are being grabbed as coaches by other nations and clubs with the latest being celebrated ex-national team captain Heath Streak.
Streak has signed a two-year deal as Bangladesh bowling coach and leaves the country next week to start his job.
The former skipper’s move comes a week after national team batting coach Grant Flower took up the same position with Pakistan.

In an interview yesterday, an elated Streak said he is looking forward to imparting his knowledge at the subcontinent. In Bangladesh, besides the national team commitment, Streak will be expected to avail his services to local league clubs.

However, the former national team captain once again raised his concerns about Zimbabwe Cricket’s failure to make use of former players in their developmental plans.

“The truth is getting international recognition like this is good for an individual but too bad for Zimbabwe because the country keeps on losing talented ex-players that are not being retained into the system so that they develop the sport.

“Former players with right qualifications and qualities should be retained so that they coach in Zimbabwe. We have a number of quality Zimbabweans coaching outside the country like Grant Flower, Dave Houghton, Andy Flower and Trevor Phiri who is with an Indian team.

“The problem is that here in Zimbabwe we do not have former players in influential board positions. If you look at other cricket playing nations, you will discover that past international players have a say in the operations of the board and are consulted in formulating policies meant to develop the sport and here in Zimbabwe it’s a different story,” said Streak.

The former Zimbabwe international who led Matabeleland Tuskers to their third consecutive Logan Cup at the end of the 2012-13 season also spoke about operations at the Heath Streak Multi-Sport Academy in his absence.

“Operations will continue well at the academy because we have a strong and vibrant team. On the coaching side the head coach Gavin Ewing is a former national team player and had a successful club career at Matabeleland Tuskers. Gavin will lead the coaching team that has experienced spin bowler John Nyumbu, national cricket women’s team player Tasmeen Granger, Goodwill Mamhiyo and renowned developmental coach Chris Phiri.

“They are very much capable of leading the academy and I will be joining them every time I am around. Basically I will spend around three quarters of the year in Bangladesh, meaning that I will be around for at least three months to see the operations. In between I will get off days which will enable me to come down,” said Streak.

He will be working with the newly appointed Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha, a former Sri Lankan cricketer.
Streak was Zimbabwe’s bowling coach between 2009 and 2013 and played six Tests and 10 ODIs against Bangladesh. He had a 15-year playing career having made his Test debut in Zimbabwe’s tour of Pakistan in 1993 to 1994.

Streak is the only Zimbabwean bowler to have taken over 100 Test wickets and one of only two Zimbabwean bowlers to have taken over 100 one-day international wickets, the other being Grant Flower.

He retired from international cricket in October 2005 but went on to play club cricket until 2008.