‘He played a fatherly role’ – Chris Mpofu recalls Heath Streak’s impact on his cricketing career

Chris Mpofu on Heath Streak (Photo Source: X(Twitter)

Chris Mpofu is a well-known name in the Zimbabwe cricket circuit. The pacer went on to garner immense attention as he ripped apart the England top order on his ODI debut in October 2004. Mpofu, however, lost the plot as he was taken to the cleaners in the Test series by the batters leaving him with the figures of 3 for 343 combined in initial tests. His bowling action was also a point of concern until Heath Streak joined the Zimbabwe team as the bowling coach.

Mpofu had an issue with his foot landing adjacently on the pitch which hampered his bowling technique over the years and curbed his pace. As and when Streak joined the camp, they worked on his run-up and posture, which transcended into a smooth action and bolstered pace. In a conversation with CricTracker, Mpofu revealed Streak was the force behind his comebacks after every shortcoming.

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“I could talk about Heath Streak all day. He did a lot for me, despite things in his life that I can’t control. He was one of the first to support me when I started playing cricket, even giving me my first pair of cricket boots. When he became the coach, he believed in me and helped me get back into the team. He wasn’t just like a brother to me; he played a fatherly role. He always picked me up when things weren’t going well,” said Mpofu while speaking to CricTracker.

“There are many things I could mention. For example, when I bowl, I always point my left arm’s little finger up, just like I saw him do. He was a great cricketer, getting over 200 Test wickets, which is amazing considering Zimbabwe doesn’t play many Test matches. He gave me valuable advice: “Never try to please anyone in this game. Don’t prove anyone wrong; prove yourself right.” This is something I always remember and live by whenever I play,” he added.

I wake up thinking I might hear from Streak: Mpofu

Streak, who was also the former Zimbabwe captain, passed away September 3 last year after a prolonged battle with liver and colon cancer. But before he left the world, the then 49-year-old had made a severe impact on lives like that of Mpofu’s. The right-arm pacer recalled his final conversation with the Zimbabwe legend and iterated that he has his messages kept intact with him.

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“It was just a week before Heath passed away that I sent him a message. I was trying to keep him strong, and he assured me he was going to get better. I still have those messages on my phone. Sometimes, I wake up thinking I might hear from him, but then I remember it’s not a dream; it’s reality. He was like a father figure. It was God’s will that he had to go, but I was glad I got the chance to say goodbye. Seeing so many people come to pay their respects at his funeral showed what a great man he was. Heath was someone I will always cherish and remember,” he concluded.