Submit-retirement Former Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak had reclined to his 8,000 acre farm (which remained after the Mugabe authorities seized a bit of his land) close to Bulawayo referred to as The Robins Farms. A world unto itself, with leopards, giraffes, wildebeest, zebras, sables, horses, monkeys, jackals and quite a few species of birds sharing greens with him.
A world far-off from cricket
So what was his life like? One needed to drive round 60 kilometres north of Bulawayo to search out the face of Zimbabwe’s bowling assault by means of the 90s and early 2000s.
Right here he saved busy with farming and safari enterprise.
Heath Streak. (File)
Discuss together with his father Denis moved from line, size and seam place to purchasers visiting Robins Farm, affords and reductions on bulk bookings.
Most vacationers visiting the farm have been from the US, UK and Australia. Individuals who know a bit of little bit of cricket have been all the time shocked.
“They ask what I’m doing nowadays and I say taking care of the farm and the household safari enterprise,” stated Streak in 2013.
Robins Farm, from the place the Streaks run Enthokozweni Safaris, has leopards, giraffes, wildebeest, zebras, sables, horses, monkeys, jackals and quite a few species of birds.
“You’ll be able to fish right here and benefit from the wildlife, We’re all the time nervous about folks making an attempt to poach our animals. We have to safeguard them,” Streak had added.
Streak took to his household enterprise after his contract as Zimbabwe’s bowling coach was not renewed as a consequence of monetary causes. It was a simple selection to maneuver again to his farm.
Streak reminisced about his teenagers when he regarded over the farming and generally performed the function of safari information. With 4,000 acres of land, he says there’s a lot to supply to their purchasers.
“We develop potatoes, tomatoes, cabbages and all needed issues for day-to-day life. On the identical time, now we have a whole lot of cattle to take care of. Farming is simpler than taking part in cricket and I’ve by no means had issues,” Streak had stated. “I’ve been doing this since I used to be a toddler,” he had added.
In the course of the low season in his taking part in days, his father made him assist out within the fields. “I’ve been tending to this area for the previous 30 years,” he had stated.
Ups and Downs
Most Learn
Chess World Cup 2023 Closing: Praggnanandhaa vs Magnus Carlsen sport 1 ends in draw; Caruana loses
Ameesha Patel says Sanjay Leela Bhansali requested her to retire after Gadar in 2001: ‘He wrote me a lovely letter, and…’
Cricketing conversations often cropped up early morning on the espresso desk. However most speak revolved round enterprise. The economic system of Zimbabwe had collapsed and enterprise isn’t the identical anymore. On the flip of the century, the Mugabe authorities seized a big chunk of the Streaks’ land.
Listed here are ups and downs, and it’s been robust generally however that’s what life is all about,” Streak stated.
“We preserve making an attempt to do higher. My dream is to construct a cricket academy right here for individuals who can’t afford it. There are various locations that cricket hasn’t but touched,” he signed off.