Mitchell Aaron Starc, born on January 30, 1990, in Baulkham Hills, New South Wales, is an Australian cricketer known for his impressive left-arm bowling skills. Standing tall at 1.96m, Starc possesses the height advantage that allows him to generate significant bounce and discomfort for opposing batsmen.
Starc’s journey as an international cricketer took off when he made his debut for the Australian national team in August 2010 against India. He quickly became a regular feature in Australia’s bowling attack, following in the footsteps of the renowned left-arm fast bowler, Mitchell Johnson.
While Johnson relied on pure pace, Starc showcased his natural swing and control, making him a formidable opponent on any cricket pitch. His skills were most evident during the 2015 ICC World Cup, where he emerged as the Player of the Tournament. With his lethal inswinging deliveries, Starc dismantled batting line-ups and ended the competition with an impressive haul of 22 wickets at an average of only 10.18.
Starc’s success in white-ball cricket raised expectations for his Test career, and though he faced initial struggles, he eventually found his rhythm. Despite the selectors’ inconsistency in his early days, Starc persevered and secured a solid run in Test cricket in 2015, which was unfortunately interrupted by an ankle injury.
One of Starc’s standout performances in Test cricket came during the 2017-2018 Ashes series, where he claimed 22 wickets in just four matches. In February 2019, during his 50th Test match, Starc added another feather to his cap by taking his 200th Test wicket, joining an elite group of Australian bowlers. Although he played just one match in the 2019 Ashes series, Starc showed his form during England’s subsequent tour of Australia in 2021-2022. His exceptional performances in the three matches helped secure the series, and he was honored with the Allan Border Medal as Australia’s male player of the year.
In addition to his exceptional bowling prowess, Starc is also a dynamic lower-order batsman. He came close to scoring a century in Mohali during a Test match against India in 2013, falling just one run short of the milestone. Off the field, Starc is married to Alyssa Healy, the accomplished Australian wicketkeeper.
Despite facing numerous challenges throughout his career, Mitchell Starc has managed to establish himself as one of Australia’s premier fast bowlers. With his ability to swing the ball both ways and consistently trouble batsmen, Starc’s contributions to the Australian cricket team have been invaluable. As he continues to thrive in both white-ball and red-ball cricket, Starc’s impact on the game is sure to endure for years to come.
