Mitchell Starc
About
Legend has it that a tall, lanky 14-year-old was spotted by a club coach trying out as a wicketkeeper for the Western Suburbs. He pulled the young man aside and demanded that he ditch the wicketkeeping mitts – and that he would teach him how to bowl. The AFL's fabled method of scouting a body-type and building a particular skill around it seemed to be at work again, as it tends to work in favour of the player's ability and aptitude.
It is a tried and tested method. Case in point: three decades ago, Dennis Lillee, then in charge of the MRF pace foundation, told a 14-year-old Indian boy of short stature that he couldn't be a fast bowler. Following the incident, the aspiring fast bowler changed lanes and took up batting. We all know how that turned out...
Starc, the teenager, seemed to have grasped fast-bowling quite quickly, picking up the fundamentals from the aforementioned coach, Neil D'Costa, and bowling at 135km/h by the time he was 16. In addition to athletic ability, he was said to have great discipline and an undying thirst for knowledge. Most crucially, however, he was a great listener, according to D'Costa. Soon after, he was selected for the New South Wales U-17s, and continued to rise through the ranks.
| Format | Debut | Last Played |
|---|---|---|
| T20 | vs Pakistan, 2012-09-07, Dubai International Cricket Stadium | vs India, 2024-06-24, Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium |
| TEST | vs New Zealand, 2011-12-01, The Gabba | vs England, 2026-01-04, Sydney Cricket Ground |
| ODI | vs India, 2010-10-20, ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium | vs India, 2025-10-25, Sydney Cricket Ground |
| IPL | vs Delhi Capitals, 2014-04-17, Sharjah Cricket Stadium | vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, 2025-05-05, Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium |
| CL | vs Cape Cobras, 2011-09-24, MA Chidambaram Stadium | vs Lions, 2012-10-28, New Wanderers Stadium |
| Stat | Test | ODI | T20 | IPL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matches | 105 | 130 | 65 | 51 |
| Innings | 154 | 77 | 21 | 23 |
| Runs | 2478 | 583 | 98 | 111 |
| Balls | 4177 | 756 | 100 | 119 |
| Highest | 99 | 52 | 14 | 29 |
| Average | 20.48 | 11.66 | 9.8 | 10.09 |
| SR | 59.33 | 77.12 | 98.00 | 93.28 |
| Not Out | 33 | 27 | 11 | 12 |
| Fours | 254 | 43 | 4 | 11 |
| Sixes | 49 | 14 | 2 | 0 |
| Ducks | 17 | 12 | 0 | 3 |
| 50s | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 100s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 200s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 300s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 400s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stat | Test | ODI | T20 | IPL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matches | 105 | 130 | 65 | 51 |
| Innings | 202 | 130 | 65 | 49 |
| Balls | 20013 | 6638 | 1458 | 1047 |
| Runs | 11481 | 5827 | 1881 | 1503 |
| Maidens | 622 | 56 | 2 | 1 |
| Wickets | 433 | 247 | 79 | 65 |
| Avg | 26.52 | 23.59 | 23.81 | 23.12 |
| Eco | 3.44 | 5.27 | 7.74 | 8.61 |
| SR | 46.22 | 26.87 | 18.46 | 16.11 |
| BBI | 7/58 | 6/28 | 4/20 | 5/35 |
| BBM | 11/94 | 6/28 | 4/20 | 5/35 |
| 4w | 20 | 12 | 1 | 2 |
| 5w | 18 | 9 | 0 | 1 |
| 10w | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Starc to miss start of IPL 2026
Cricket Australia look to manage the 36-year-old cautiously, with up to 21 Tests looming in a 12-month stretch starting August
IPL 2026· 20 Mar 2026Curran, Smith and Starc carry Sydney Sixers to BBL Qualifier
In a straight shootout for the last remaining knockouts spot, Sydney Sixers chased down Brisbane Heat's 171/9 with 5 wickets and 8 balls to spare
Big Bash League 2025-26· 18 Jan 2026Starc urges ICC to act after Snicko goof-ups
The Aussie fast bowler questioned the current structure and funding of DRS after third Ashes Test in Adelaide
Technology Woes· 22 Dec 2025Australia retain Ashes after taking unassailable 3-0 lead
The hosts were made to toil hard on Day 5 due to knocks from Smith, Jacks and Carse but eventually won by 82 runs
The Ashes 2025-26· 21 Dec 2025Dominant Australia strike regularly to take control of Adelaide Test
After putting up 371 in the first innings, Australia have England hanging on by a thread at 213 for 8 who are still adrift by 158 runs
The Ashes 2025-26· 18 Dec 2025Starc takes six but Root's maiden Australia ton steers England past 300
England nudged in front on the opening day in Brisbane, powered by Root's maiden Test hundred on Australian soil
The Ashes· 4 Dec 2025