FORMER Zimbabwe cricket team captain and bowling coach Heath Streak is a delighted man after he was unveiled as the country’s new national cricket team coach last week — a job he had always aspired to have ever since he retired from the game as a player.
BY MUNYARADZI MADZOKERE
Streak takes the reins in a position where his predecessor, World Cup-winning coach Dav Whatmore failed dismally to transform the fortunes of a chronically struggling team.
He brings a wealth of experience after having worked with Australian Brad Hogg as Gujarat Lions bowling coach in the lucrative Indian Premier League this year.
“I have always wanted to do this [coach] ever since I retired from playing. I have always aspired to take up this challenge and for me to be the Zimbabwe coach is a big priviledge and I will not leave a stone unturned in the quest to improve the team’s performances,” Streak told Standardsport.
The 42-year-old former fast bowler’s love for his country is well-documented, such that even at his previous job as Bangladesh bowling coach he made the famous quote when he had to plot Zimbabwe’s downfall.
“I suppose I little bit feel like Frank Lampard playing for Manchester City against Chelsea,” Streak was quoted by ESPNcricinfo when Zimbabwe toured Bangladesh for three Tests and five One Day Internationals.
However, the new coach, who gets his first taste of competitive action in a little less than two weeks with Sri Lanka and West Indies, is under no illusion that his love for the country and familiarity with the players guarantees him success.
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“I know I have played at the highest level, I have coached locally, coached in Bangladesh and even in the IPL [India Premier League], but that does not guarantee success. I have gone through that whole process so that I can better myself as a coach and success will only come through hard work as well as doing the right things,” he said.
Streak vowed to give Sri Lanka a run for their money when they visit the country for two Tests matches which will culminate in a triangular ODI series that will also involve West Indies.
“I am looking forward to playing Sri Lanka. I know they are coming from a great series against Australia, but we can give them a good run for their money. I am pleased that some of the guys are having a good lead to the Sri Lanka tour, with some good performances against Pakistan A which is touring currently.
“But what I would like to see is players putting their heads [into the game] and converting good foundations into big performances. Consistency will also be key as it is something that the team has lacked in recent years,” Streak said.
One of Streak’s major tasks will be to help Zimbabwe qualify for the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup because the country this time around does not have the priviledge of automatic qualification.
Makhaya Ntini, who took over from Whatmore in an interim capacity, has now reverted to his full-time role as bowling coach, while Lance Klusener will continue as batting coach.
The former Matabeleland Tuskers coach believes the fact that the country has lost too much talent to other countries is one of the reasons why it is currently struggling.
“I don’t think we lack potential, but in recent years we lost a number of our top players, as well as a lot of junior players, especially from the Under-19 group. We need to try and bring some of them back and give them opportunities to show what they can do,” he said.
Streak was an integral member of the Zimbabwe cricket team for 12 years having made his debut in 1993 until he retired from international cricket in October 2005.
The former captain represented the country in 65 Test matches in which he claimed 216 wickets while scoring 5 369 runs. Streak also needed 189 ODIs for turnover of 4008 runs and 239 wickets.
In August 2009, he was appointed as the bowling coach of Zimbabwean cricket national team and later took over at local franchise side Tuskers in 2012 winning two Logan Cup titles.
