Tests always far above the white-ball cricket: Mitchell Starc

Australia pace spearhead Mitchell Starc highlighted that the national side’s cluttered schedule could prompt him from giving up white-ball cricket for a prolonged Test cricket career. The left-arm pacer further warned the administration for having a hectic schedule, thereby adding ‘fatigue’ to not just the players but also the fans due to excessive cricket.

The 32-year-old pacer is staring at the prospect of having an extensive run in the white-ball format with over 100-days of international cricket in the coming year. Starc could possibly end his white-ball career post the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup scheduled to be held in India to prolong his future with the national side in the red-ball format.

"Tests always first, far above white-ball (cricket). I'll decide on the rest as I go, where my body is at, and how I feel about it. I would love to, selection and form pending, continue playing Test cricket as long as I can,” said Starc after the second ODI in the ongoing England series.

"It's certainly impossible at the moment to play every game as a three-format player. We've seen that over the last few years, sometimes there are two Australian teams playing at the same time in different continents in different formats. They see a break and put a series on. I think having those periods of time to rest may help me keep bowling at decent speeds for a period of time. I don't think playing three formats is something I can (continue) for a long period of time moving forward now,” added the pacer.

Starc further stated that with excessive cricket, even the fans begin to feel drained out.

"There's a game every day. It's not for me to sit here and decide on a schedule but it is what it is. We've come off a T20 World Cup into a three-match one-day series into five Tests, the WBBL is heading into finals at the minute, then you've got BBL, we go to India for Tests, and white-ball (cricket), the girls have got a T20 World Cup into IPL. How do you ask people to go spend 400-500 bucks at a day of cricket three days a week? It's a busy schedule for players and staff and fans,” concluded the 32-year-old.