CUP AXE SHARPENS STARC FOR ODIS
MITCHELL Starc has revealed he had a no-nonsense chat with George Bailey about his shock World Cup axing, declaring he has no regrets over his $10m IPL sacrifice.
The left-arm destroyer’s first-over demolition of England’s top order at the SCG on Saturday night illustrated the error of not playing Starc for the final World Cup match against Afghanistan, where rapid wickets could have opened a semi-final chance.
Starc refused to divulge details of his heart-to-heart with the selector, other than to confirm he shared some “strong opinions” on his axing.
“George and I have spoken and that is where it will stay,” he said after routing England with a four-wicket masterclass.
“I had strong opinions on it and had a conversation, and that’s where it is.”
Despite his extraordinary record taking first-over wickets, particularly in white ball cricket, Starc was taken away from the new ball in the World Cup for most matches, but is adamant he can still spearhead Australia at the next World Cup in the US in 2024.
“Yeah, why not? I don’t have to worry about T20s for another nine months,” he said.
“I still have ambitions to play T20 cricket for Australia but it is a long time to the next one and a lot of water to go under the bridge.
“So we will face that when we get to that.”
After his World Cup dumping, it was suggested that Starc had sabotaged his Twenty20 form by snubbing the Indian Premier League for the past seven years.
He says maybe so, but refuses to apologise for making Test cricket his priority.
“In my mind I don’t regret any of those decisions not to go,” he said.