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Mitchell Starc, an undeniable jewel in Australia’s cricketing legacy, stands out as one of the premier pacers that the nation has ever produced. The left-arm pacer’s exceptional ability to generate swing and consistently take wickets solidifies his position as one of the most formidable bowlers on the global stage.
Mentioning about his performance ODI World Cup 2023, Starc etched his name in the annals of cricketing history by becoming the fastest pacer to reach the milestone of 50 wickets in the ODI World Cups, achieving this remarkable feat in just 19 matches. The 33-year-old surpassed the longstanding record held by the legendary Lasith Malinga, who took 25 World Cup encounters to reach the half-century mark of wickets.
As the five-time world champions gear up to take on South Africa in the second semifinal of the grand ICC event at the Eden Gardens on Thursday, Starc has opened up on his potential retirement from the white ball cricket.
‘I have no vision for that’: Starc
Starc expressed uncertainty about participating in the next ODI World Cup, stating that he does not envision making it to the tournament due to the considerable four-year timeframe. Though the crackerjack expressed his intention to continue playing beyond the current period, he also acknowledged the extended duration as a factor that makes his participation uncertain.
“I plan to continue playing after this, but I’m sure I won’t be part of the next World Cup. I don’t foresee it. Four years is quite a long period. To me, the World Cup semifinal is simply another one-day game for Australia. It’s not the conclusion of my journey in one-day cricket just yet,” Starc told reporters at the team hotel.
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‘I haven’t performed at the level I desired’: Starc
Starc further underlined that his performance in the current World Cup had not met his desired level, especially compared to the previous two World Cups, discussing the challenges of bowling with the new ball on specific pitches, especially in the powerplay with only two fielders outside the circle. He mentioned that understanding the wicket evolves as the game progresses, attributing his challenges to the nature of one-day cricket.
“I haven’t performed at the level I desired, not like the last two World Cups. But now, there’s an opportunity at the critical stage to make an impact again. Bowling first on specific pitches with the new ball and two fielders out has been one of the most challenging times to bowl. As the game progresses, you gain an understanding of the wicket. It’s not a sab story, it’s the nature of one-day cricket,” the Baulkham-hills-born cricketer added to his comments.
