Starc, 36, continued delivering peak performances for Australia, securing yet another ‘Player of the Series’ award after the West Indies tour and the Ashes series at home.
Following his side’s win over Bangladesh at Mackay, veteran Australian pacer Mitchell Starc spoke on his longevity in Test cricket, saying that he will “milk his body” as much as he can for the longer format and expressed his readiness for the South Africa Tour in September-October. After an embarrassing loss at Darwin, Starc’s ten-wicket haul, including a quick six-wicket haul in the first innings, was in itself a massive indication of the vengeance that the Aussie players had in their mind after losing on their home turf.
Mitchell Starc, 36, continued delivering peak performances for Australia, securing yet another ‘Player of the Series’ award after the West Indies tour and the Ashes series at home.
Starc won the ‘Player of the Series’ award for 12 wickets in two matches and is the leading wicket-taker in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle, with 58 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 16.98, with a four-fer and four five-wicket hauls. Speaking on the upcoming white-ball series in South Africa, the ODIs starting from September 24 before the Tests in October, he said, ” There is a couple of white-ball series before those Test matches in Africa. After a dismal all-round performance led to Australia’s first-ever loss to Bangladesh on their home soil, the bowling group, particularly Starc, responded with vengeance and trademark Aussie fire, not allowing Bangladesh to cross the 100-run mark in either innings and won the match by an innings and 51 runs.
Speaking about his longevity after the match, Starc said, “I thoroughly enjoy being part of this group. Test cricket, I have said it before, Tests will always be the pinnacle for me and later on when we get to sing the song and he (Nathan Lyon) is leading it, that is one of the main reasons why we like to do it, love to do it. The left-armer said that while Bangladesh played really well and nothing can be taken away from them, Australia had a much better week on the field. Speaking on entering top ten Test wicket-takers, he said, “I do not know yet. So I will just get told what I am doing and will pack the bag accordingly.
He also entered the top ten Test wicket-takers of all time during the match, surpassing South Africa’s Dale Steyn. So, yeah, I would like to milk my body for all I can for Test cricket. I am still playing. Nathan (Lyon) did remind me that I have just stepped on the first rung of the ladder and he is still up there looking down on me. So, still got a way to go. Passport ready to go. Australia’s flaws with the bat, however, continue to persist, and the team would want them addressed ahead of the Test series in South Africa in October.
