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CHANGING BASES . . . Heath Streak (centre) is now fighting in the Bangladesh corner and plotting Zimbabwe’s downfall when the first Test gets underway later this week. — Cricinfo

DHAKA. — Heath Streak can relate his situation to Frank Lampard playing for Manchester City against Chelsea, where the English footballer played for 13 seasons.
In Streak’s case the connection is deeper.

He is a living legend in Zimbabwe who is now plotting against them as Bangladesh’s bowling coach.

The former Zimbabwe captain and coach shifted base earlier this year, having taken up the new role before Bangladesh’s ODI series against India.

He has high respect in Bangladesh, having performed regularly against them: Streak averages 16.20 and 18 with the ball against Bangladesh in Tests and ODIs, respectively.

He has also played club cricket in the country, and has been there for more than five months now.

For the Bangladeshi ear, his use of “Insha Allah” instead of “hopefully” was a slight surprise, as much as his “we” being now used for Bangladesh would be for a Zimbabwean.

“I suppose I little bit feel like Frank Lampard playing for Manchester City against Chelsea,” Streak told ESPNcricinfo.

“I love Zimbabwe but I am also here in Bangladesh, really enjoying it. My job is to make sure we do the best we can.

“I am also judged by how the seamers perform. I will be giving our best and hoping that they can compete that we win both series.”

As the bowling coach, he saw the pace bowlers do well against India, but they disappointed largely in West Indies.

He has now worked with seven pace bowlers, but has felt it unnecessary to make major changes in their make-up.

He has so far imparted tactical knowledge and believes that small changes can have a major impact on a player’s performance.
“A lot of these bowlers have bowled so much,” Streak said.

“It is more subtle, tactical things, getting our percentages better, just a little more thought behind what we are trying to achieve while bowling. Nothing major. There are one or two fringe players we are looking (at) to change a few things.

“With the senior players it is more tactical and small technical things. At this level, a minor technical change can have a major effect.

“Someone’s wrist positioning being a little more consistent, where he delivers from in the crease, small things like that can have a big impact on performance. Hopefully, they are starting to buy in and I having to say less and helping them on tactical side of things.”

Streak does not want his pace attack to relent, look disinterested and only wait for the spinners to take wickets.

He wants them to be involved and have important roles during the Test series.

“Obviously Bangladesh conditions are much tougher for the quick bowlers,” Streak said.

“So we have been working on the processes of how we want to bowl at the Zimbabweans and how best we can utilise the conditions.

“The pace bowlers have a very important role to play. They can’t just expect the spinners to do all the work. New ball and obviously in the middle spells, they have to dig in deep.”

Streak also has not forgotten the Zimbabwe attack, and had particular praise for Tendai Chatara. He said that early wickets would have an effect in the Tests and this is where both pace attacks would have to contribute.

“We are evenly matched. They have some really good guys I have worked with,” he said. “Tendai Chatara is a strong boy and we will have to play him well.

“They have got (Tinashe) Panyangara who is experienced and disciplined. They have one or two other quicks.

“I think we know the spinners will play a role from both teams but seamers have a huge part to play. If they can contribute with the early wickets, it makes a huge difference to the outcomes of the games.”

Streak also urged the Bangladesh team to not wait for things to happen, and only bank on favourable conditions at home.

“I think this is a very important series for both teams.

It is no secret, we have struggled in the last year,” he said.

“In terms of confidence and preparation going to the World Cup, I think this is a very important series for us. We have to earn these rewards.

They have shown they can beat good teams. We can’t expect to turn up and beat Zimbabwe, because we are playing at home.” — ESPNCricinfo