Fast bowler Mitchell Starc revealed the reason behind skipping several editions of the Indian Premier League (IPL) ahead of his 100th Test for Australia against the West Indies.
Starc stated that he prioritized Test cricket over franchise leagues, especially considering the physical demands of red-ball cricket.
Mitchell Starc will play his 100th Test match for Australia in Kingston, starting on July 12. He will become just the second Australian fast bowler, after Glenn McGrath, to reach the 100-Test mark. Starc has taken 395 Test wickets and has a chance to join the elite 400-wicket club during this landmark match.
Test Cricket Was Probably the Hardest Format – Mitchell Starc
Speaking to the media before his 100th Test, Mitchell Starc said that he has no regrets about missing franchise cricket to focus on Tests. He stated that Test cricket was the most challenging format for him to prove himself in.
“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. The years that I did miss franchise cricket, I don’t regret that at all,” Starc said.
Australia have already secured the three-match Test series against the West Indies, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead. They won the first Test by 159 runs and followed it up with a 133-run win in the second match. The third and final Test is set to begin on July 13.
That’s the Reason Why I Did Those Things – Mitchell Starc
Mitchell Starc said that he decided to skip franchise cricket to stay physically fit for Australia and spend quality time at home with his wife, Alyssa Healy, and family. Starc said that he wouldn’t alter any of the choices he made along the way.
“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. Whether it’s paid off now, being a couple of days away from playing 100, or the series wins or the Test match wins, looking back at it, I wouldn’t change it,” Starc mentioned.
Mitchell Starc Skipped Franchise Cricket to Stay Fit for Australia
Starc, who made his Test debut in 2011, chose to stay away from franchise cricket for several years to maintain peak fitness for international duties.
The left-arm pacer played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the 2015 and 2016 IPL seasons but withdrew from the 2017 edition. He was picked by Kolkata Knight Riders for IPL 2018, but an injury ruled him out.
Starc made his IPL return in 2024 with KKR, playing a vital role in their title win, and later joined Delhi Capitals after the 2025 mega-auction.
Despite missing out on substantial IPL earnings over the years, Starc has been an integral part of Australia’s successes, including victories in the ODI World Cup, T20 World Cup, and the World Test Championship.