Mitchell Starc at T20 World Cup 2024. Image- Reuters.
Mitchell Starc Retires from T20 Internationals to Focus on Test and ODI Career Ahead of 2026 World Cup.
(The Post News)- Australia’s premier white-ball fast bowler, Mitchell Starc, has officially stepped away from Twenty20 international cricket, six months to the next T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
The veteran left-armer, aged 35, made the decision in order to extend his longevity in Test and one-day cricket, which he considers the cornerstones of his international career.
Starc, who made his T20I debut in 2012, retires as Australia’s most prolific fast bowler in the format. Over the course of 65 T20 internationals, he claimed 79 wickets at a strike rate and pace unmatched by many of his contemporaries. Only leg-spinner Adam Zampa has taken more wickets for Australia in T20 internationals, placing Starc firmly among the format’s greats in the national setup.
In a statement released by Cricket Australia on Tuesday, Starc reaffirmed his commitment to red-ball cricket and expressed gratitude for his time in the T20 arena.
“Test cricket is and always has been my highest priority,” Starc said. “I’ve loved every moment representing Australia in T20s, particularly the 2021 World Cup. That campaign wasn’t special just because we won—it was about the incredible team environment, the camaraderie, and the fun we had along the way.”
Starc pointed to his long-term goals as key to the decision. With a packed international schedule that includes an away Test tour to India, another Ashes series, and the 2027 ODI World Cup, he believes stepping away from T20 internationals is essential to maintaining peak physical condition.
“Looking ahead to those major red- and white-ball campaigns, I believe the best way to stay fresh and fit is to narrow my focus,” he added. “This decision also allows our T20 bowling group the chance to develop cohesion and gain experience in the lead-up to the World Cup.”
Cricket Australia announced Starc’s absence from the upcoming T20I squad for the New Zealand series on Tuesday, effectively confirming his retirement from the shortest format. The move comes as part of a broader generational shift in Australian cricket, with several senior players transitioning out of white-ball formats.
Chairman of Selectors George Bailey acknowledged the significant void Starc leaves behind, emphasizing the challenge of finding a like-for-like replacement for a bowler with such a rare skill set.
“Mitchell Starc is a once-in-a-generation talent,” Bailey said. “Very few fast bowlers can swing the new ball at 145km/h and back it up with precise execution in pressure overs at the death. His impact with both the ball and in the field has been immense.”
Bailey added that while Australia cannot directly replace Starc, they have already begun grooming new talent to take on key roles in the T20 setup. “We’ve given players like Nathan Ellis, Ben Dwarshuis, Sean Abbott, and Xavier Bartlett exposure to the demands of international T20 cricket,” he said. “While we can’t replicate what Starc brings, we’re confident in the depth we’re building.”
Starc’s departure from T20 cricket brings to a close a chapter highlighted by one of Australia’s proudest moments in the format—the 2021 T20 World Cup triumph. He played a vital role in that title-winning run, taking nine wickets across seven matches in the UAE and helping to deliver Australia’s first and only T20 World Cup crown.
His retirement caps a 13-year T20I career and reflects a broader generational shift within Australian cricket. Starc joins a growing list of veterans who have moved on from white-ball formats. Opening batter David Warner retired from international cricket last year, while Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, and Marcus Stoinis have all stepped away from the ODI setup, signaling the end of a dominant era for Australia’s limited-overs teams.
Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg praised Starc’s service to Australian cricket and acknowledged the personal sacrifices he made over the years.
As the national side builds towards the future, Mitchell Starc’s legacy in T20 cricket will endure not just for his statistics, but for the fear he instilled in opposition batters and the inspiration he provided to young fast bowlers across the country.
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