Mitchell Starc opens up on skipping the IPL for eight years and says Test cricket is still ‘top of the tree’
After Mitchell Starc was bagged for INR 24.75 crore by KKR at the IPL 2024 auction, there has been a lot of talk about how he gave the tournament a miss for eight years to focus on national duty. Well, that is indeed true, and while he tried to make a comeback in 2018, it wasn’t possible due to an injury. While speaking, the fast bowler gave away a lot of details as to what happened during the auction.
Starc said, “It turns out, his wife Alyssa Healy, who is in India for the one-off Test, was giving her updates, and so was Daniel Vettori of the KKR, while Starc himself did not watch it. “I didn’t plan on watching it, but the storms blew up in Sydney, so I couldn’t take the dogs for a walk like I had planned to.”
“I tried to ignore the phone and just watch it. It’s very interesting how the auction’s played out, and timing comes into it, and when your name comes out, but, yeah, it was a pleasant surprise.”
He went on to add that it is always Test cricket and international cricket for him that hold more weight. “I’ve always prioritized Test cricket and international cricket, and it’s hard enough juggling one schedule, let alone when there are two schedules in the relationship.”
“I’ve always spent that time away from cricket with Alyssa or with family and recharging my body to be as fit and ready for Australian cricket.
“I don’t regret it. I think it has helped my Test cricket. As I’ve said before, the money is certainly nice, and it is this year, but I’ve always prioritized international cricket, and I think it has helped my game. Red-ball cricket is still top of the tree for me, and my body will probably let me know about Test cricket [being over for me] before I want it to.
He also said, “It’s a nice lead into the T20 World Cup next year with the IPL and the quality of cricket that the tournament presents.”