Cricket: Streak bares all

For some, the Black Caps three-match series against a World XI might seem like a bit of hit and giggle. Cotton candy cricket to sweeten the blow of losing the Sri Lankan series.

But for Heath Streak, the matches couldn't be any more important.

It is a chance for the former Zimbabwe captain, one of 15 white Zimbabwean cricketers in self-imposed exile, to prove he still has what it takes to take on the best in the world.

"Obviously it's been a while since I've played. It's been eight or nine months since I last played an international match so it will be nice to get back on the park," Streak told the Herald on Sunday from his homeland.

Streak, who has taken more than 200 test wickets and scored more than 1800 test runs, couldn't help but wonder if he'd ever get the chance to mix it with the best again.

"Obviously we're hoping things in our country can settle down a bit and there is an opportunity to return to the fold, otherwise it would be a premature end to my career. I would like to have another five or six years of international cricket."

Streak's story can't avoid the potholes of politics. When Henry Olonga and Andy Flower - the latter will represent the World XI in New Zealand too - wore armbands to mourn the death of democracy in Zimbabwe, Streak did not.

This had some people painting him as an apologist for despot Robert Mugabe.

Nonsense of course. Streak has more to lose than any of us taking lofty moral stands from cushioned chairs can imagine - his father Dennis once spent 72 hours in a Zimbabwe prison for refusing to hand over three-quarters of his farm to Mugabe's land commission - but his commitment to cricket remains unwavering.

He is not a martyr, or a patsy, but Streak admits he has felt like the meat in a political sandwich at times. The only thing that has kept Streak from turning his back on the game is the fact he still dreams of bowling to the likes of Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar.

Led by Streak, 15 white players withdrew their labour last year, citing political inteference in the Zimbabwe Cricket Union and racially-motivated selection policies.

Since then he has watched with some mortification as an inexperienced Zimbabwean side under boy-captain Tatenda Taibu has been humbled, with the nadir coming on their current tour of Bangladesh where the home side won their first test.

"It's sad for two reasons. It's sad that it's been allowed to go as far as it has without a remedy being found. Secondly, I see a couple of young guys who have talent and ability and I feel sorry they've been put in a situation where they're not ready for that level."

The easy option for the ICC would be to take test status from Zimbabwe, but Streak does not believe that's the way to go.

"If you lose test status it could be hard to regain it and that would be sad," Streak said.

"The other sad thing is if you look around the place and see the guys that should still be playing international cricket.

"There's Neil Johnson, Murray Goodwin and Andy Flower just to name a few. If Zimbabwe could keep those players, without all the issues of the past half-a-dozen years, we could become a more consistent and competitive performer in the test arena."

Streak held some hope for a resolution, saying the government's sports commission had put together a committee to look into the exiles' issues.

"It's not to get all these guys together to have discussions, but it is certainly the intention of these guys to remedy things and get back on the park."

Streak's thirst for competitive cricket is quenched somewhat by his two-year contract, with an option for a third year, with Warwickshire in England.

During the off-season he plays a bit of club cricket in Zimbabwe, but admits he won't be at his sharpest when he arrives in New Zealand later in the week.

He realises he will need to get game sharp to take on a Black Caps one-day side at the peak of their powers.

"They're an impressive side. They've got a great experience base with your Flemings and Astles and Cairns and Vettoris, but also some exciting youngsters in Marshall and McCullum. It's good for world cricket to have a competitive New Zealand side."

It'd be even better to have a competitive Zimbabwe too.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY