'It's a little bit lighter' - Mitchell Starc throws light on experience of using wife Alyssa Healy's bat

Mitchell Starc, the Australian cricketer, has taken an unconventional approach in the world of cricket by using his wife Alyssa Healy's cricket bat during a men's Test match. This unique choice has raised eyebrows and generated curiosity among fans and experts alike.

This unusual move has yielded positive results for Starc. In the World Test Championship Final against India, he achieved his highest Test score in almost four years, scoring an impressive 41 runs. In a recent Ashes match at Lord's, Starc faced 72 balls, making a significant contribution to the team's fourth-innings target against England.

Starc's decision to use Healy's bat is based on his preference for its lighter pick-up compared to his previous bat, "It's a little bit lighter," he said as quoted by Yahoo Sports. He made the switch after facing the fast and intense bowling of South Africa's Anrich Nortje during the summer, "(South Africa's) Anrich Nortje was bowling pretty fast through the summer, so I used a lighter bat. She didn't know it was gone, so it was fine,"

While cleaning out his cricket bags at home, Starc discovered the lighter bat and promptly claimed ownership of it, leaving his wife with just two remaining bats, "I was cleaning out a few cricket bags at home, she was away on a tour. I said, 'you know there's three bats in this bag' and she didn't know, I said, 'there's two now, the other's in my bag!'" Starc added.

Interestingly, this is not the first time Starc and Healy have traded bats. Both being sponsored by Kookaburra, they have previously shared their equipment. Healy used one of Starc's bats during the 2016-17 WBBL, delivering exceptional performances. However, the bat needed some repair work after she cut off the end of the handle.

Fortunately, Healy's bat requires no modifications for Starc's use, except for an additional grip to improve his handling. This compatibility has allowed Starc to make the most of his wife's bat and showcase his skills on the field.

In addition to their shared equipment, Starc, and Healy have been able to spend quality time together during their respective tours. Starc traveled to Bristol to watch Healy captain Australia in the first ODI of the multi-format Ashes. He also attended the initial days of the Test match at Trent Bridge, while Healy managed to catch parts of the first three Tests of the men's tour.