Mitchell Starc opens up on skipping IPL editions ahead of milestone Test

KINGSTON: Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc has revealed the reason for forgoing several editions of the India Premier League (IPL) ahead of his milestone 100th Test against the West Indies.

The 35-year-old pacer has played in the IPL in recent times; however, he has skipped several editions in the past to prioritize Test cricket.

Starc is set to join Australian legend Glenn McGrath in an elite list of fast bowlers who have played 100 Tests. The left-arm pacer, on Saturday, 12 July, will become the second Australian pacer to achieve this milestone and the overall 16th player to do so.

Having made his debut in 2011 against New Zealand, Starc is only five wickets away from reaching 400 wickets in Test cricket. He has so far taken 13 wickets in the two Tests against the West Indies.

Speaking on the eve of the third Test, with the series already secured by Australia, Starc expressed his thoughts on playing 100 Tests and skipping several editions of India’s marquee league.

“Test cricket was probably the hardest format to either feel like I was good enough for or felt like I was capable of doing. To get that opportunity, I wasn’t going to let that pass at all,” Starc said on IPL.

Most Test Wickets for Australia

• Shane Warne 708 wickets in 108 matches
• Glenn McGrath 563 wickets in 124 matches
• Nathon Lyon 553 wickets in 137 matches
• Mitchell Starc* 395 wickets in 99 matches

“The years that I did miss franchise cricket, I don’t regret that at all. To get my body in as good a spot as I could for Australia to play 99 games, spend some time at home, spend some time with Alyssa [Healy] and family. That’s the reason why I did those things,” he added.

“It makes me feel old,” Mitchell Starc stated on a lighter note when he was asked about the milestone.

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