“Trav Head was the first one to come in and say you’d rather take it like that than him grab it.”
Starc believes he is playing the best cricket of his career and Australia will be desperate for more potency and accuracy in the coming 12 months.
Australia travel to India for a four-match series in February. It has been 18 years since Australia won the series in India under Adam Gilchrist.
After that, there’s a World Test Championship ahead of the Ashes series away – provided Australia don’t surrender to South Africa and India in the upcoming games.
Despite retaining the Ashes in England in 2019, Australia have not won an away series in England since 2001.
With a more than 50-match World Cup in India in October, Starc has a big trophy feast to hone his concentration on.
Pat Cummins congratulates Mitchell Starc.Credit:Associated Press
“I don’t think you have to look at the next six months for us,” Starc said. “It’s really special to be a part of it. Apart from wickets, we have the chance to win the series in India and then win the series in England, Hopefully there’s a Test winner in the middle. We have a team and a bowling attack that I’m lucky enough to call my closest mates. For me, that’s as much of a carrot as I need to be involved.
“Hopefully the next six months will be really special.”
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Before this test, Starc said he never had a chance to ask Shane Warne why he was being so critical of him. While Vaughn insists it was never personal, it will be interesting to hear about the late left-arm player’s big thoughts on reaching the milestone.
In a way, Starc’s first Test wicket was Brendon McCullum at the Gabba in 2011.
Starc’s 300th wicket was very similar to the one he gave to McCullum in the 2015 World Cup final, who smashed his stump.
Starc’s dedication to loose green is unquestionable. Here is a player who has turned down the millions offered by the Indian Premier League year after year to protect his body against the rigors of Test cricket.
“I know I prioritize it. I don’t see it as a sacrifice or anything like that,” Stark said. “I thoroughly enjoyed April and May with [wife] alyssa [Healy] Stay away from cricket at home.
Stark’s home and away record is about the same. In Australia, he averaged 26.18 runs per game, while abroad he conceded 27.63 goals per wicket.
“I’ve seen him patch up the scars and bruises and blisters in the locker room,” Cummins said.
“You see the toil behind the wickets and the performances. It puts him at the top of the list of great Australian bowlers.”
Cummins added with a chuckle: “He’s got better ball control now. I guess his next 300 will come soon.”
