Mitchell Starc Eyes Milestones as He Approaches Defining Year in Cricket

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc, nearing his 35th birthday, prepares for a pivotal year with milestone achievements in sight. Despite closing in on 400 Test wickets and 100 Test matches, Starc emphasizes team contributions over personal accolades. His dedication to Test cricket remains unwavering, even as he reflects on his career's demanding future.

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc is gearing up for what could be a career-defining year as he approaches his 35th birthday in January. With an important five-Test series against India on the horizon, Starc is closing in on the remarkable feats of 400 Test wickets and 100 Test matches.

Despite these imminent milestones, the experienced left-arm seamer remains focused on his role in the team rather than personal achievements. Recognized as a mainstay in Australia's bowling lineup, Starc acknowledges the possibility of his name joining the legends of cricket, although he insists that records were never his main motivation.

"It's very humbling. You see the numbers, but it's never been a real motivator for me... It's nice to have played a part for as long as I have and hopefully, there's a few more Test matches in me yet," Starc said when asked about the prospect of joining the elite 400-wicket club. In March, he surpassed Dennis Lillee's record of 355 Test wickets, solidifying his status as one of Australia's most accomplished fast bowlers. Only Glenn McGrath and Lillee have more wickets among Australian seamers.

While McGrath extended his career until 36 and Lillee retired at 34, Starc's future remains uncertain, though he acknowledges the challenges of maintaining a fast-bowling career at an elite level as he ages. Undeterred, Starc continues to excel, demonstrating no signs of slowing down despite being in what many call the twilight of his career.

Since the conclusion of the 2019 Ashes, Starc has been a constant fixture in the Australian Test side, consistently delivering top-notch performances. Over the past five years, only a handful of bowlers, including Ravichandran Ashwin, Nathan Lyon, and Pat Cummins, have taken more Test wickets than Starc's impressive tally of 143.

Starc's unwavering dedication to international cricket has often come at the expense of substantial earnings in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Forgoing potentially $10 million in IPL opportunities to prioritize representing Australia has bolstered his reputation as one of the nation's finest white-ball bowlers.

Nonetheless, Starc remains pragmatic about his future, especially in balancing the demands of all three game formats. While England's Jimmy Anderson recently retired at 42, Starc doesn't foresee a similar path. Instead, his focus is on upcoming challenges like a home Ashes series and the Champions Trophy, which loom in the next 18 months. "I've been very lucky to play three formats for a very long time," Starc said, reflecting on his career while promoting Amazon Prime's free same-day delivery service in Sydney.

"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 on my body is going to take away from others," he told The Sydney Morning Herald. Test cricket remains the pinnacle for Starc, and he is committed to playing at the highest level as long as his body permits.

"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," Starc stated. "I've never been that bowler and there's plenty of better bowlers around the country to fill that job," he added.

While uncertainty about the future persists, Starc has not yet set an end date for his career. Instead, he eagerly anticipates the upcoming summer and the challenges it will bring, keeping an open mind about how long he will continue to don the Baggy Green. "I'm really looking forward to this summer and I haven't put any expiry date on anything just yet," Starc concluded.

(With inputs from agencies.)