Mitchell Starc has declared it impossible for players to juggle all three formats of the international game under its current hectic schedule, as he spoke for the first time since his hotly debated omission from Australia’s last XI of the Twenty20 World Cup.
In a frank mood after claiming 4-47 to seal Australia’s 50-over series win over England, Starc also pointed out that had he played in the Indian Premier League in recent seasons, he may not have improved anywhere near as much as a Test bowler: the format in which his heart truly lies.
Mitchell Starc believes he is a better Test bowler for choosing to miss the IPL.Credit:Getty Images
There was never likely to be any doubt that Starc was unhappy to be left out of the team to play Afghanistan in Australia’s final Cup game in Adelaide, and he confirmed as much with a clipped description of his conversation with selection chair George Bailey.
“George and I have spoken and that is where it will stay. I had strong opinions on it and had a conversation, and that’s where it is,” Starc said, before stating he was still eager to be considered for inclusion in the T20 World Cup squad for 2024.
“I spoke to George at length, it was a good conversation. Many different things were floated there. I still have ambitions to play T20 cricket for Australia, but it is a long time to the next one and a lot of water to go under the bridge.”
Bailey’s explanation of the decision to play Kane Richardson ahead of Starc had been one based on tactics and combinations. Head coach Andrew McDonald had offered a similar rationale.
Mitchell Starc claimed 4-47 against England at the SCG on Saturday.Credit:AP Photo
“It was a little bit around his death bowling,” Bailey had said. “Due to the fact we were bringing Cameron Green in, who can do a really good job through the middle and I think he did the other night, it was about attacking a bit earlier.
“We’ve been pretty consistent with using Patty [Cummins] and Josh [Hazlewood] through the Powerplay and it meant we were going to look to use them a little earlier, then to push through the middle with ‘Zamps’ [Adam Zampa]. It was a tactical decision, it was a match-up decision. People can make of that what they will – and clearly are.
“To be clear, just because someone’s not in an XI, it doesn’t mean we think they’re not a good player. It doesn’t remove the fact of whatever they might have done for Australia in the past. Unfortunately you can only pick 11.”
Either way, Starc was adamant that the glut of international matches meant an increasing number of players would pick and choose which formats and series to take part in. As a long-time absentee from the IPL due to his desire to spend time with his fellow cricketer wife Alyssa Healy, Starc has more right to say this than most.
“It’s certainly impossible at the moment to play every game as a three-format player,” Starc said. “We’ve seen that over the last few years, sometimes there’s two Australian teams playing at the same time in different continents in different formats.
“It’s impossible for everyone to play every single game of cricket in a 12-month period now with the way they are scheduling things. They see a break and put a series on.
“I think having those periods of time to rest helps me keep bowling at decent speeds for a period of time; I don’t think playing three formats is something I can do for a long period of time moving forward now.”
As far as the IPL is concerned, 32-year-old Starc made it plain that losing some ground as a T20 force was a price he was willing to pay in order to keep bowling fast and staying fit over a long period.
Mitchell Starc bowled Dawid Malan with a classic new ball away swinger at the SCG.Credit:Getty
“It may have, but if I’d gone in there and having no break and playing 12 months of the year, what does that affect?” Starc said. “Does that affect my body? Do I break down? Does it affect my red-ball cricket? You can’t just sit there and go ‘he should go to the IPL’ because he’d be a better T20 bowler.
“What’s the downside of that? Do I give away a format of the game because I’m playing 12 months of the year? In my mind I don’t regret any of those decisions not to go. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed April and May for the last seven or eight years, it’s probably helped my golf handicap, too. I wouldn’t change it.
“Tests far above white ball. I’ll decide on the rest as I go and where my body’s at and how I feel about it. I’d love to, selection and form pending, continue playing Test cricket as long as we can.”
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