Ashes 2023: “I Possess a Skill Set Which Complements Our Entire Attack,” Says Mitchell Starc

Veteran Australian pacer Mitchell Starc has vowed not to change his game plan to fit into the playing eleven moving forward. The left-arm pacer also feels that compromising on his own skills makes Australia’s bowling attack one-dimensional as well. However, during the 2019 Ashes series, the then-head coach Justin Langer kept Starc out of the first three Tests and gave the reason that Josh Hazlewood was better able to control the flow of runs as well.

He said that he understands if match-ups or conditions keep him out of the game, but he also refused to change his approach. As quoted by The Age, he said: “I have learned not to change my game to suit fitting into a team. If I’m not in the XI because of conditions or match-ups, that’s fine, but I possess a skill set which complements our entire attack. I’m never going to bowl like Scott or Josh or Pat. Why do I need to change the way I go about things to be like them to fit into an XI?”

He further added: “If that means I’m not in the XI at certain stages, that’s fine, but I think that’s one thing I learned from the past. Because I wasn’t in the XI, I tried to be this economical bowler who can hit a spot. That’s not me. Sure I went for a few more runs, but my strike rate was lower or I bowled a different length.”

Ashes 2023: “I do more harm trying to fit in” – Mitchell Starc

Mitchell Starc, however, returned for the fourth Test in Manchester in the 2019 leg and picked up three wickets in the first innings, including that of Ben Stokes. He followed it with one in the second as Australia won by 185 runs to take an unassailable 2-1 lead in the series as well.

The veteran also felt Australia missed an opportunity four years ago as winning the Ashes would have been more satisfying as well. He added that a win in England this year would be fitting for the veteran players also. However, the 2023 Ashes starts on June 16 at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

“I’ve come to not get so frustrated about it. Sure, you want to play every game, but I do more harm trying to fit in than when I stick to my strengths. To retain the Ashes was quite special … but you want to win it. We’re all getting to the back-end. Pat is the youngest. We’ve all been together for a number of years. If it’s the last time us older guys are together, it’d be a hell of a way to finish playing cricket in England,” Mitchell Starc concluded.