Heath Streak Cricket Academy’s Under 18 Cricket Team- Zimbabwe in City for Tournament
Heath Streak Cricket Academy’s Under 18 Cricket Team- Zimbabwe in City for Cricket Tournament from 9-12 December at NITTE university ground.
Mangaluru: It seems like Zimbabwean cricket legend and former Captain Heath Streak likes to make Mangaluru hsi next hometown, because on 4 April 2018, “He Came, He saw, He conquered…the hearts of Team Players of Karavali Cricket Academy, and also other cricket enthusiasts who had gathered at the University college-Mangaluru sports ground to have close encounters with one of the Former World’s Fastest Bowler in Cricket history”. And he was back again with his young cricket team boys to play against two under 15 Cricket Teams from Mangaluru, namely Mangaluru Sports Club; and Mangaluru Occasional’s, which was played at Sahyadri College Ground, from 12-14 April 2019
And now, once again Heath Streak Cricket Academy’s Under 18 Cricket Team has come down to mangaluru to take part in a cricket tournament which will be held from December 9 to 12 at NITTE university ground. A Welcome dinner banquet was arranged by Hotel Moti Mahal, Mangaluru in partnership with Heath Streak International Cricket Trust-Zimbabwe to honour two distinguished personalities of Mangaluru- Dr A J Shetty, who has been one of the pioneer entrepreneur of Mangaluru, and Rohan Monteiro, one of the young entrepreneurs in Real Estate/Builders, for their generous contribution and support towards the growth and development of cricket in the region by promoting international junior cricket cultural relations and frienddhip between cricket playing nations.
The occasion also honoured Santhosh Misquith for spearheading the development of cricket in Mangaluru through his renowned Karavali Cricket Club, affiliated to the Karnataka State Cricket Association. On Sunday, 8 December night, Heath Streak cricket team joined by Mangalorean origin Joseph Rego, who is Streak’s long time friend and who is the country’s most celebrated International Cricket Consultant and a widely known figure in the global cricketing fraternity and also the CEO & Executive Director of the Heath Streak Multi-Sports Institutions in Zimbabwe, briefed the audience about the Team and their journey. At the Moti Mahal hotel, on their arrival prior to the banquet, they were along with the young cricket team boys were welcomed in a traditional Indian style by the hotel front desk staff, and were later cooled off from the treacherous summer heat by offering them the “Uruda Bonda”( local grown tender coconuts).
Joseph Rego addressing the audience said, “It feels great to be back to my hometown, Mangaluru , along with Heath Streak Under 18 Zimbabwe Cricket team of the Heath Streak International Cricket Trust. The Zimbabwe team will face the young cricketers of four teams during the four-day match to be played at Nitte University ground. I am happy to note that young cricketers of Mangaluru will get a chance to interact with cricketers from a African country. The young boys of the Zimbabwe team are all filled with enthusiasm to be here, and to play the matches with the local teams. We also want to promote and develop cricket globally. Four teams, namely Karavali Cricket Academy, Karavali Cricket Clinic, NITTE Education Trust and Zimbabwe under-18 team, will face each other in the cricket tournament starting from December 9 until 12”.
Shaun Joseph -the Chief administrator and Head Coach gave a brief note on the formation of Heath Streak Cricket Team, and also how the association between Joseph Rego and Zimbabwe team started, which has now reached greater heights. The associates of the cricket team A J Shetty, chairman, A J Group of Institutions and Rohan Monteiro, managing director, Rohan Corporation, were honoured with the autographed cricket bat on the occasion. In the absence of Dr A J Shetty, the Hotel Manager K M Hegde, accepted the honour on behalf of Dr A J Shetty. Also the Zimbabwe under-18 team jersey was unveiled by the dignitaries on the dais.
Captain of Heath Streak Cricket Team Denly Watama, Vice Captain Bryan Reagan, Team Manager Ms Tiala Rego, Santhosh Misquith-the General secretary, Karavali Cricket Academy, were among many well-wishers and invitees present during the Dinner banquet. The programme was meticulously and professionally compered by Ms Arunitha Kundu- Hotel Reservation Assistant. Heath Streak was not present at the Dinner banquet, but will join the Team here soon.
ABOUT ZIMBABWEAN CRICKETER HEATH STREAK :
Heath Hilton Streak (born 16 March 1974) is a former Zimbabwean cricketer, and a former Test and ODI captain. By his statistical record, he is the best bowler to have played for Zimbabwe. He is the only Zimbabwean bowler to have taken over 100 Test wickets and one of only 4 Zimbabwean bowlers to have taken over 100 ODI wickets (the others being Grant Flower, Prosper Utseya & Ray Price). He is currently the head coach of Zimbabwe national cricket team and the bowling coach for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL.
A lion-hearted fast bowler with immense stamina and strength, Heath Streak had the ability to bowl out swing at good pace and with excellent control and ranked among the top three bowlers in the world during his era back in the 90’s and early 2000. He was the first Zimbabwean to reach 100 test wickets. Streak was also an extremely capable batsman who loved to give the ball a whack over the infield, and a magnificent outfielder with a howitzer-like throw. Streak is currently ranked as one of the best cricket coaches in the world.
In 1995/96, Streak played in the same Matabeleland team as his 46-year-old father Denis in the final of the Lonrho Logan Cup against Mashonaland Country Districts; this was the first instance of a father and son playing in the same first-class match for more than thirty years. On 25 April 2007, Streak resigned as Warwickshire captain, saying captaining the side was affecting his on field abilities. He was replaced as captain by Darren Maddy. At the end of the 2007 season he left Warwickshire citing family reasons.
At the end of the year of 2007, he joined the Ahmedabad Rockets in the Indian Cricket League. He played two seasons in the ICL along with appearing in the Hong Kong sixes. In 2009, he cut his ties with ICL, and in that August was appointed as the bowling coach of Zimbabwean national team. He was also given the responsibility of working with the young Zimbabwean fast bowlers and for franchise cricket.
Streak made his Test debut in Zimbabwe’s tour of Pakistan 1993/1994 making his mark by taking 8 wickets in the 2nd Test at Rawalpindi ( 9–14 December 1993). In the match, Streak won the Player of the series award, took 22 wickets at an average of 13.54. He bettered his best bowling figures in 1995 when Pakistan toured Zimbabwe taking 6/90 in the first Test at Harare. In 2000/2001, he won 2-man of the series awards, first in Zimbabwe’s tour of England and then in Bangladesh’s tour of Zimbabwe. He along with Andy Flower set the record for the highest 7th wicket partnership for Zimbabwe in ODIs(130).
Streak retired from international cricket in October 2005 to become captain of Warwickshire County Cricket Club having previously played county cricket for Hampshire. He also captains his fellow exiled players from Zimbabwe in the Red Lions team, which plays charity games in England. In August 2009, was appointed as the bowling coach of Zimbabwean cricket national team. He was also given the responsibility of working with the young Zimbabwean fast bowlers and for franchise cricket.
Later it also appeared that Heath Streak is the most possible candidate for the head coach job of Zimbabwean national team when the contract of Walter Chwaguta ends. It is believed that Walter Chwaguta will be Streak’s assistant coach. In 2010 along with his former teammate Grant Flower, he joined as supporting coach of Zimbabwe under former English cricketer Alan Butcher. Flower became batting coach and Streak was named as bowling coach.
In 2013, Streak contract was not renewed for financial reasons. Zimbabwe Cricket had offered Streak a consultancy role but they cannot guarantee him a set number of working days or specific pay which has forced him to stay out of the preparations for Bangladesh series. Finances permitting at his franchise in Bulawayo, the MatabelelandTuskers, he remained coach there. He was appointed Bangladesh’s bowling coach in May 2014 until 2016. In October 2016, he was appointed Head Coach of the Zimbabwe cricket team. Streak has been tasked with ensuring Zimbabwe qualify for the 2019 World Cup, and was allowed to continue in his role as bowling coach for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL.