Mitchell Starc namedrops James Anderson as he announces his cricket retirement plans
Published - 21 Aug 2024, 02:56 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:18 AM
Australian pacer Mitchell Starc has opened up about his retirement plans from international cricket ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 series against India. Mitchell Starc said that he can't prolong his international cricket career into his 40s like former England bowler James Anderson.
Starc has always prioritized representing Australia over participating in franchise leagues. The left-arm fast bowler has achieved significant success, including winning the 2015 ODI World Cup, the 2021 T20 World Cup, and the 2023 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final match in his career.
Very Lucky To Play Three Formats For A Very Long Time - Mitchell Starc
Mitchell Starc recently said that the demanding cricket schedule across all formats has taken a toll on his body. He expressed uncertainty about how much longer he can continue playing in all three formats. Starc said that balancing his physical health with the intense schedule is becoming challenging.
“I’ve been very lucky to play three formats for a very long time. How long that will continue, I’m not sure. The scheduling of three formats is getting harder and harder and finding blocks of time to spend time on my body is going to take away from others," Starc said (via The Sydney Morning Herald).
The 34-year-old cricketer highlighted that Test cricket remains his top priority. However, Starc said that his body will decide how long he can continue. He admitted that he can't play into his 40s like James Anderson. Starc said that he is focused on the upcoming summer but hasn't decided on retirement.
“Tests are still definitely the pinnacle for me and I think my body will play a part in that decision whenever it gets to it. I’m not someone like Jimmy who played until he was 40-odd and had incredible skills to swing it both ways. I’ve never been that bowler and there’s plenty of better bowlers around the country to fill that job. I’m really looking forward to this summer and I haven’t put any expiry date on anything just yet," he added.
Mitchell Starc returned to franchise cricket in 2024. He became the costliest player in the history of the Indian Premier League. The pacer represented the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL 2024. Despite a disappointing start in the tournament, Starc played a crucial role in KKR's success during the playoffs.
The Level Of Competitiveness Between Both Trophies Is On Par - Mitchell Starc
Mitchell Starc said that the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has become as competitive as the Ashes. He added that the upcoming five-match series between India and Australia will be fiercely contested, with both teams at the top of the WTC table.
“It’s thrown it right on par with an Ashes series being [expanded to] five Tests," Starc said.
The Border-Gavaskar series between India and Australia has become intensely competitive. It’s worth mentioning that Australia hasn't won a Test series against India in a decade. The Indian team has won four consecutive BGT series, including two away victories.
