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Heath Streak Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth16 March 1974

Age49 Years

BirthplaceBulawayo, Matabeleland, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe)

ProfessionCricketer (Allrounder), Cricket Coach, Rancher

NationalityZimbabwean

Marital statusMarried

SpouseNadine Streak

FamilyChildren: Kevin Streak, Holly Streak Cook, Charlotte Streak; Adoptive son: Harry Streak; Father: Denis Streak; Mother: Karen Streak

Heath Streak Biography

Heath Hilton Streak was a leading Zimbabwean cricketer, captain and coach whose international career spanned the 1990s and early 2000s. A right-arm fast‑m‑

Early life and background

Heath Hilton Streak was born on 16 March 1974 in Bulawayo, in what was then Rhodesia and is now Zimbabwe. He grew up in a ranching family near Bulawayo and was introduced to cricket by his father, Denis Streak, who played first‑class cricket. Streak attended Rhodes Estate Preparatory School and later Falcon College. A close family connection to Australia brought him early exposure to televised cricket and helped shape his aspirations as a young bowler.

Career

Streak made his first‑class debut for Zimbabwe B on 30 March 1993 at Harare Sports Club and moved quickly into the international arena. He made his Test debut on 1 December 1993 against Pakistan and impressed immediately, taking 8 wickets in the second Test of that series and finishing the tour with 22 wickets at an outstanding average. He made his ODI debut on 10 November 1993 in Bangalore.

Over a Test career that ran from 1993 to 2005, Streak played 65 matches and became Zimbabwe’s leading Test wicket‑taker with 216 wickets. His performances included multiple five‑wicket hauls and match‑winning spells, such as a six‑for at Harare in 1995 that helped secure an innings victory over Pakistan. He became the fastest Zimbabwean to reach 50 Test wickets, achieving the mark in just 11 matches.

In limited overs cricket he also dominated for Zimbabwe, appearing in 189 ODIs and finishing as his country’s top wicket‑taker in that format with 239 wickets. He crossed major milestones quickly — becoming the first and fastest Zimbabwean to 100 ODI wickets in June 1999 and reaching 200 ODI wickets in June 2003. He featured in multiple World Cups and was part of the Zimbabwe side that reached the Super Sixes at the 1999 World Cup, a tournament in which Zimbabwe recorded a famous victory over South Africa.

Streak captained Zimbabwe from 2000 to 2004 in Tests and ODIs. As captain he led the side to notable successes, including Zimbabwe’s first Test win on Pakistani soil and a first Test victory over India. He also produced standout individual performances, such as earning Man of the Series honours during Zimbabwe’s 2000 tour of England and again in the home series against Bangladesh. He became the first Zimbabwean to earn a place on the Lord’s Honours Board for figures of 6‑87 against England.

At domestic level he represented Matabeleland for much of the 1990s and early 2000s and had spells in English county cricket, including Hampshire in 1995 and Warwickshire from 2004 to 2007. He made his Twenty20 debut for Warwickshire in July 2004. In domestic competition he even partnered on the field with his father in the 1995/96 Lonrho Logan Cup final, a rare father‑and‑son appearance in professional cricket.

Coaching and later developments

After his playing career Streak moved into coaching. He served as head coach of the Zimbabwe men’s national team in two spells, from 2009 to 2013 and then from 2016 to 2018. His later involvement in the game also included working in franchise and domestic environments.

In April 2021 the International Cricket Council imposed an eight‑year ban on Streak for breaches of its anti‑corruption code. The ICC found that he had accepted charges related to passing inside information about matches to people involved with betting; Streak accepted the charges and the sanction without the need for a tribunal hearing.

Personal life and family

Streak was married to Nadine Streak. The couple had three children — two daughters, Holly and Charlotte, and a son, Kevin — and they adopted a son, Harry. His father Denis later represented Zimbabwe in lawn bowls after a cricketing career. Holly Streak is married to Sam Cook.

Public profile

Heath Streak was widely regarded as Zimbabwe’s most successful fast bowler and one of the country’s leading cricketers across formats. He finished his career with notable all‑round numbers, becoming the only Zimbabwean to record both 1,000 Test runs and 100 Test wickets and the only player from his country to pass 2,000 ODI runs and 200 ODI wickets.

Latest updates

Streak died on 3 September 2023 at the age of 49. The reported cause of death was colon cancer. His passing followed a long association with Zimbabwean cricket as player, captain and coach.

Legacy

Streak’s impact on Zimbabwean cricket is reflected in the records he set and the milestones he achieved as a bowler and leader. He remains notable for the breadth of his achievements across international formats and for his later role guiding younger players as a coach.
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Recent Work

Head coach, Zimbabwe men's national team

Served two spells as head coach of the Zimbabwe men's team from 2009–2013 and 2016–2018.

2009–2018
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Career Highlights

  1. Zimbabwe’s leading Test wicket‑taker with 216 wickets
  2. Zimbabwe’s leading ODI wicket‑taker with 239 wickets
  3. First Zimbabwean to 100 ODI wickets (fastest to do so for his country)
  4. Only Zimbabwean with 1,000 Test runs and 100 Test wickets and with 2,000 ODI runs and 200 ODI wickets
  5. Named Man of the Series on Zimbabwe’s 2000 tour of England and in the 2000/2001 Bangladesh series
  6. First Zimbabwean to feature on the Lord’s Honours Board (6‑87 vs England)
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Heath Streak born?

16 March 1974

What is Heath Streak known for?

Cricketer (Allrounder), Cricket Coach, Rancher

What is Heath Streak’s marital status?

Married

Who is Heath Streak married to?

Nadine Streak