Streak ends his strike

Heath Streak: back in the fold © Getty Images

As exclusively revealed by Cricinfo yesterday, Heath Streak has ended his dispute with Zimbabwe Cricket and has signed a contract to play for Zimbabwe again.

According to Ozias Bvute, ZC's managing director, Streak will be drafted into the Zimbabwe side for the forthcoming Tests against South Africa and could, if it proves possible, join the Zimbabwe A side in their current game against Bangladesh. Bvute added that Andy Blignaut, who is also playing in that match after ending his strike a few days ago, might also be summoned.

"I just need to finalise some aspects of my contract with Warwickshire county so that it ties in with my international commitments," said Streak. "Otherwise I am ready to play for Zimbabwe when selected. I am putting my weight fully behind the captain, Tatenda Taibu, and the rest of the lads."

Streak, who is 31 next month, took 234 wickets in 59 Tests for Zimbabwe before last year's falling-out.

Streak joins Andy Blignaut, who returned to the fold last week under what Zimbabwe Cricket is calling an "open-door policy". Streak has been playing club cricket in Zimbabwe, so is in some sort of form - and it seems likely that he will be drafted straight in to the national team which is currently touring South Africa, perhaps after playing in some of the one-day matches between Zimbabwe and Bangladesh's A teams.

Sources in Zimbabwe suggest that Streak's reconciliation also paves the way for the return of Stuart Carlisle and Trevor Gripper, who were closely aligned with Streak's position. It seems, however, that the left-arm spinner Ray Price will not be making an international comeback: Worcestershire have confirmed that they are expecing him to report at New Road for the beginning of the new English season. The position of Grant Flower is still unclear.

Macsood Ebrahim, Zimbabwe's convenor of selectors, said that now Streak had signed a contract, he was available for selection subject to form and fitness.

And Peter Chingoka, Zimbabwe Cricket's chairman, paid tribute to the behind-the-scenes work done by a working party to resolve the issues: "Zimbabwe Cricket is grateful to Mr Addington Chinake and his ad hoc committee for all the work it has done pointing out to the players the roles played by the various structures of the organisation and the separation of functions between administration and players."