Ace Australian pacer Mitchell Starc is considering hanging up his boots, at least as far as the shorter international format of the game. Having just come off a stunning match-winning performance against the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the world’s biggest franchise cricket tournament: the IPL, the lead paceman is now weighing his options as far as his future in the international game when it comes to representing his country: Australia.
This news may not come as a surprise, as Mitchell Starc now has pretty much all the top silverware there is in cricket. Having been a part of the World Cup-winning team in last year’s final in India. And now, with the franchise cricket IPL trophy behind him, he is looking at his options afresh.
Mitchell Starc: A Great Paceman of a Great Age
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This current Australian lineup of the past decade may not be the most dominant in world cricket. That accolade probably goes to the juggernaut Australian team that dominated the late 90s and the whole of the 2000s. Led by the likes of Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist.
Having made his debut for Australia in 2010, and despite missing out on a World Cup Spot in 2011, Mitchell Starc has been the mainstay of the Australian pace bowling outfit. Leading Australia to two ODI World Cups, one T20 World Cup, and a World Test Championship. Thus, a potential retirement from the shorter 50-over format of the game will come as a hit for the national team, which has a reputation for picking up crucial wickets early on, such as Brendon McCullum in the World Cup Final 2015.
However, this does not mean that the cricketer from New South Wales has made his final decision. Whilst franchise cricket is an appealing prospect, the pacer still has a few good years left in the tank. Time will tell if he will make full use of it.
The Appeal of Franchise Cricket
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In cricket, like any sport, money talks. The appeal and versatility offered by the shorter format of the game would mean that many top players would naturally gravitate towards this outlet. Franchise cricket, in the form of domestic league tournaments such as the Indian Premier League, provides top players the freedom to play, make money, and then take time off when the season or contract ends.
The main concern, of course, is the temptation to put the appeal of money over national loyalty. This problem has especially plagued West Indian cricket. However, things are different when it comes to Mitchell Starc and Australian cricket in general. The paceman has contributed his fullest to the national team and has helped the team win big tournaments, with stellar performances in the IPL, and now he feels right to weigh his options when it comes to what the future holds for him.
This is arguably a smart move, considering that the World T20 is now weeks away. Following its conclusion, Mitchell Starc would be in a better position to make the right choice concerning his future international cricketing. The bigger question now is whether other big-name player follow in his footsteps, only earlier in their career.
About the Author
Damian Thar writes on a range of topics. In addition to his professional work, he writes essays on subjects like philosophy, history, and culture. He also writes and edits books, and in his free time, he makes YouTube videos on topics like religion, theology, and current events. You can find his work here.
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