After retirement, Heath Streak had taken to farming, organised safaris | Cricket News

Former Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak, who had been undergoing cancer treatment, died at the age of 49.
The all-rounder was the all-time leading test wicket-taker for his country. He took 216 wickets and scored 1,990 runs in 65 tests between 1993-2005. He also played in 189 one-day internationals, scoring 2,943 runs and taking 239 wickets.
Post-retirement Streak reclined to his 8,000 acre farm (which remained after the Mugabe government seized a chunk of his land) near Bulawayo called The Robins Farms. A world unto itself, with leopards, giraffes, wildebeest, zebras, sables, horses, monkeys, jackals and numerous species of birds sharing greens with him.
A world far away from cricket
So what was his life like? One had to drive around 60 kilometres north of Bulawayo to find the face of Zimbabwe’s bowling attack through the 90s and early 2000s.
Here he kept busy with farming and safari business.
Heath Streak. (File)
Talk with his father Denis moved from line, length and seam position to clients visiting Robins Farm, offers and discounts on bulk bookings.
Most tours visiting the farm were from the US, UK and Australia. People who know a little bit of cricket were always surprised.
“They ask what I’m doing these days and I say looking after the farm and the family safari business,” said Streak in 2013.
Robins Farm, from where the Streaks run Enthokozweni Safaris, has leopards, giraffes, wildebeest, zebras, sables, horses, monkeys, jackals and numerous species of birds.
“You can fish here and enjoy the wildlife, We are always worried about people trying to poach our animals. We need to safeguard them,” Streak had added.
Streak took to his family business after his contract as Zimbabwe’s bowling coach was not renewed due to financial reasons. It was an easy choice to move back to his farm.
Streak reminisced about his teens when he looked over the farming and sometimes played the role of safari guide. With 4,000 acres of land, he says there is plenty to offer to their clients.
“We grow potatoes, tomatoes, cabbages and all necessary things for day-to-day life. At the same time, we have hundreds of cattle to look after. Farming is easier than playing cricket and I’ve never had problems,” Streak had said. “I’ve been doing this since I was a child,” he had added.
During the off-season in his playing days, his father made him help out in the fields. “I have been tending to this field for the past 30 years,” he had said.
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Cricketing conversations occasionally cropped up early morning at the coffee table. But most talk revolved around business. The economy of Zimbabwe had collapsed and business isn’t the same anymore. At the turn of the century, the Mugabe government seized a large chunk of the Streaks’ land.

Here are ups and downs, and it’s been tough sometimes but that’s what life is all about,” Streak said.
“We keep trying to do better. My dream is to build a cricket academy here for people who can’t afford it. There are many places that cricket hasn’t yet touched,” he signed off.