Mitchell Starc expressed his desire to continue playing international cricket, but the demanding schedule is hindering him to do so.
Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc has revealed his desire to continue playing international cricket for as long as possible, but the demanding schedule of modern-day cricket is taking a toll on his body. The 34-year-old has expressed concerns about his ability to maintain his peak performance in all three formats of the game.
Mitchell Starc, who has won almost everything in his international career, has set his sights on marquee events such as the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the Champions Trophy, and the Ashes. However, he admitted that playing Test cricket remains his top priority and that he has no specific plans to retire from any format at the moment.
“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 told The Sydney Morning Herald.
“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 [Anderson] 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.
Starc’s comments come in the wake of James Anderson’s retirement from international cricket at the age of 41. The English pacer’s longevity has been a source of inspiration for many, but Mitchell Starc believes that the demands of modern-day cricket make it increasingly difficult for bowlers to extend their careers.
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The Australian fast bowler also discussed the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India, which is considered one of the most iconic rivalries in Test cricket. Starc believes that the competitiveness level between the Ashes and the BGT is on par, and he is excited for the challenge of facing the Indian batting line-up.
“It’s thrown it right on par with an Ashes series being [expanded to] five Tests. The Border-Gavaskar doesn’t have that length of history [as the Ashes] but I think the level of competitiveness between both trophies is on par. We’re currently one and two in the Test table so there will be a bit of spice to it,” Mitchell Starc concluded.
Last Updated on August 21, 2024
