The cricket world is in mourning after Zimbabwean great Heath Streak died aged 49 following a battle with cancer.
The allrounder’s family revealed his health issues in May and said he was undergoing treatment in South Africa.
News of Streak’s death emerged on Wednesday, with Zimbabwe veteran Sean Williams leading the tributes.
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“No words can explain what you and your family have done for mine and many others,” Williams said.
“Our hearts are broken, you leave behind a beautiful family and a legacy for us to live up to!
“You will be missed, we love you dearly. Rest in peace Streaky.”
Streak played 65 Test matches and 189 ODIs for Zimbabwe and starred as one of the brightest lights of their golden generation in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
He remains the country’s only cricketer with 100 Test wickets and 200 ODI wickets to his name.
He took over as captain in 2000 but clashed with the board on occasion and retired from international cricket in 2005 when he was just 31.
“Sad news coming through that Heath Streak has crossed to the other side,” ex-teammate Henry Olonga wrote.
“RIP Zimbabwe cricket legend. The greatest allrounder we produced. It was a pleasure playing with you.
“See you on the other side when my bowling spell comes to an end.”
Cricket writer Jarrod Kimber said Streak was the heart and soul of Zimbabwean cricket.
“There were better players for Zimbabwe than Heath Streak in the ‘90s. But he was the man who never stopped trying,” he said.
“His batting had a huge bump when he was made captain. It was like he constantly willed himself to be a success for his team.
“Skill, desire, work ethic. Vale.”
Cricket journalist turned The Chase star Brydon Coverdale said: “What a terrific cricketer Heath Streak was. An excellent allrounder, and a key part of Zimbabwe’s cricketing story. Such sad news that he has died aged 49.”
Streak’s greatest day with the bat in ODI cricket came when the skipper led Zimbabwe to their first overseas series victory with a stunning triumph over New Zealand in 2001.
Arriving at the Eden Park crease with Zimbabwe sitting on 6-146 and needing 128 runs off 20 overs, the required run rate ballooned to nearly eight with 11 overs remaining.
But after scoring just 14 runs off his first 31 balls, Streak plundered 65 off his next 36 to secure the one-wicket victory with eight balls to spare.
He finished on 79 not out with four boundaries and five sixes.
Streak scored his only Test century against the West Indies in 2003.
He had a five-wicket haul against Australia in 1999 but also led Zimbabwe’s attack in 2003 when Matthew Hayden scored his career-best 380 in Harare.
Earlier that year Streak captained his country as they reached the second round of the Cricket World Cup joint-hosted by Zimbabwe.
His time in cricket came to an end in 2021 when he received an eight-year ban for breaching the ICC’s anti-corruption code.
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