By James Cooney.
The cricketing world has been hit for six after Heath Streak’s teammate backtracked and said the Zimbabwean cricket great is still alive just hours after telling the world the 49-year-old had died of cancer.
Henry Olonga took to social media on Wednesday to pay tribute to his nation’s ‘greatest allrounder’.
‘Sad news coming through that Heath Streak has crossed to the other side,’ wrote Olonga.
‘RIP [Zimbabwe cricket] legend. The greatest all rounder we produced. It was a pleasure playing with you.
‘See you on the other side when my bowling spell comes to an end.’
However, hours later he took to X – formerly known as Twitter – to deliver some miraculous news.
‘I can confirm that rumours of the demise of Heath Streak have been greatly exaggerated,’ he wrote.
I can confirm that rumours of the demise of Heath Streak have been greatly exaggerated. I just heard from him. The third umpire has called him back. He is very much alive folks. pic.twitter.com/LQs6bcjWSB
— Henry Olonga (@henryolonga) August 23, 2023
‘I just heard from him. The third umpire has called him back. He is very much alive folks.’
Olonga then shared a message sent to him by Streak after the reports of his death: ‘Very much alive..pse revert this runout IMMEDIATELY buddy.’
The former fast bowler is one of Zimbabwe’s greatest ever cricketers and was the first player from his nation to take 100 wickets.
Streak played 65 Tests and 189 one-day internationals for Zimbabwe, captaining them between 2000 and 2004.
He scored 4,933 international runs, hitting a lone century against the West Indies in Harare, and claimed 445 wickets.
Streak was reported to be battling cancer earlier in the year and has been receiving treatment in South Africa.