Streak quits as Zimbabwe captain

Heath Streak has resigned as Zimbabwe's captain, the country's cricket chief announced on Tuesday.

Pace bowler Streak, who led Zimbabwe for the past 12 months, is to be replaced by leg-spinning all-rounder Brian Murphy, who will captain the side in the triangular one-day series starting in Sharjah on Friday.

Zimbabwe Cricket Union managing director David Ellman-Brown said in a statement: "He (Streak) has indicated that the strains of captaining the side have affected his performance and as he is an integral part of the team, wishes to concentrate on his personal game."

Ellman-Brown said Murphy was appointed on a tour-by-tour basis, and the vice-captaincy would be resolved by the tour management in Sharjah, where Zimbabwe are playing Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Streak took over the Zimbabwe captaincy from Andy Flower in September last year, and the stint was not without problems.

During a home limited overs series last June, he quit as captain just before the start of a match against West Indies, citing differences with the team selectors, but resumed the captaincy 24 hours later.

Streak, who is Zimbabwe's premier strike bowler, has taken 163 wickets at 25.85 in his 44 tests.

Murphy has played 10 tests, taking 18 wickets at 58.55 and scored 98 runs at 8.90.

Mail Cricket Editor