A third-generation Zimbabwean, the Streaks have farmed at Turk Mine, some 40 miles outside Bulawayo, for more than a century and it was there that Denis Streak grew up. A right-arm seamer, he made his debut for Rhodesia in the Currie Cup in 1976-77, and played for them on and off until independence in 1980. In 1984-85 he played two games against the touring English Counties XI and was subsequently picked for Zimbabwe's short tour of England in 1985. His final first-class appearance came when, aged 46, he played for Matabeleland in their winning Logan Cup final side alongside his son, Heath. Denis Streak has also represented Zimbabwe at lawn bowls.

He has been actively involved in promoting and encouraging the development of cricket in Zimbabwe - he hacked a cricket ground out of the bush on his farm - and for a time was a Zimbabwe selector.

In 2001 he hit the headlines for the wrong reasons when he was imprisoned after government-backed militants tried to seize the family farm under Rober Mugabe's Land Reform policy. The event attracted considerable publicity and he was allowed to stay on an=bout a quarter on the farm, although the removal of his son as national captain in April 2004 might change all that.

Despite all that he has suffered, he continues to argue against sanctions. "I lost out back in the Rhodesia days because of sanctions," he explains. "So I know what it is like to be isolated from international sport."