“I will leave no stone unturned in terms of our endeavour and our quest to improve the team’s performances”

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Former Zimbabwe captain and pace bowler Heath Streak has been named as the country’s new head coach.

Streak will succeed Dav Whatmore, who was sacked in June, and has been tasked with ensuring Zimbabwe qualify for the 2019 World Cup.

Andy Blignaut, Peter Kirsten and Justin Summons were also in the running, but Streak was preferred candidate.

“My promise is I will leave no stone unturned in terms of our endeavour and our quest to improve the team’s performances,” Streak, who will also be allowed to continue his role as the Gujarat Lions’ bowling coach in the Indian Premier League (IPL), said. “I believe that we have the resources here in Zimbabwe to do just that and planning is obviously going to be a major factor.

“We do have a lack of cricket but I know Zimbabwe Cricket is addressing that issue at the moment. I feel that with the upcoming series [Tests against Sri Lanka and an ODI tri-series also featuring West Indies] we have some really good cricket coming up, so we can really work towards improving.”

Makhaya Ntini, who was the interim head coach after Whatmore was sacked, is expected to carry on as the team’s bowling coach, while Lance Klusener will continue on as the batting consultant.