Starc turned down millions of dollars in the IPL. He has no regrets ahead of his 100th Test

The Age

4 days ago

'I don't like it. Just get on with the cricket.'
If there's one thing people will remember about Starc, it's that he sacrificed millions of dollars in the Indian Premier League to ensure his body and mind stayed sharp for the rigours of representing his country in attritional, four and five-day cricket.
'The years that I did miss franchise cricket or didn't play anything, I don't regret that at all,' Starc said.
'I wouldn't change it,' Starc said. 'Test cricket was the hardest format to feel like I was either good enough for, or capable of doing. To get that opportunity, I wasn't going to let that pass up.
'To get my body in as good a spot as I could for Australia to play 99 games, or whatever it may be, spend some time at home and with [wife] Alyssa [Healy], that's the reason why I did those things.
'Growing up, it was always [about] wanting to pull on the baggy green. I didn't think I'd play one game, but to have 99 chances to do that has been a real privilege.'
As for his future, Starc says he will get through this Test, the upcoming Ashes, and then assess. Trying to win away series against India and England in 2027 must be tempting but Starc knows all too well the toll fast bowling takes on the body.
'There's a few scars and a few sore bits most days,' Starc said. 'There's got to be a part of you that knows how to bowl through things.
'There's a fair bit of stubbornness there ... and maybe some stupidity at times. I know my body well enough that I know what I can and can't play through. I'm never going to go into a game that I don't think I can get through.
'I'm not one to reflect hugely on what's been. I will when I have finished and I don't have to worry about getting out of bed to bowl too much.'
It is fitting that Starc's 100th Test is a pink ball fixture and on that front, his excitement is difficult to conceal. On a warm Thursday afternoon in Kingston, Starc steamed in at Australia's batsmen in their last proper hit-out before the Test. No one found it an easy assignment.
Starc has 74 wickets in pink balls matches - the next best of any player is Nathan Lyon with 43 - at an average of 18.14.
With Australia's batsmen likely to take the game on and the West Indies' batting unit showing no signs of improving, the visitors might find themselves at a golf course on day five.
'It's quite funny my 100th is a pink ball game,' Starc said. 'There might be a few things going on at night with the pink Dukes ball.
'Usman [Khawaja] is the only one who's played with a pink Duke, and it was an English Duke. He said the county game went for a day and a half.
'It looks a pretty good wicket and it's exciting to play a day-night Test away from home.'
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From 99 Tests, Starc has won 58, lost 28 and drawn 13. They all mean a lot to a cricketer whose doggedness across 15 years in cricket's most taxing format can never be questioned.
'I certainly remember the wins … they stick with me the most,' Starc said. 'Whether it's Alex Carey's first team song [last week in Grenada] or songs after retaining an Ashes or winning the BGT [Border-Gavaskar Trophy] at home … they're the special moments.
'It's certainly been a lot of fun.'