Mitchell Starc revealed that an ankle injury was the main reason for missing the Champions Trophy, with “personal views” also playing a part in his withdrawal. He joined Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood on the sidelines, leaving Australia without their top fast bowlers. Despite this, a win against Afghanistan on Friday will secure a semi-final spot.
Cricket Australia stated that Starc withdrew for personal reasons with full support from the board and team. In his first comments since the squad announcement, Starc didn’t elaborate on the personal reasons but highlighted the World Test Championship final against South Africa as his priority.
“There are a few reasons behind my decision, including some personal views and a bit of ankle discomfort I had during the Test series against Sri Lanka, Starc explained on the Willow Talk podcast. “I’m focusing on getting that injury sorted, especially with the World Test Championship final coming up, along with the West Indies tour after that.”
“I also have the IPL to look forward to, but the Test final is my main priority right now. I want to make sure my body is in good shape, play some cricket in the coming months, and be ready for that Test final,” he added.
Reflecting on the World Test Championship’s first cycle, Starc said, “When the concept was new, I didn’t think much of it. Our main focus was always on winning every Test match and series. But as we got closer to it and missed out, watching it unfold on TV, we realised we all wanted to be part of it. That’s when my perspective changed.”
“In the second cycle, we reached the final and faced India on neutral territory, which was a significant moment for both teams. We came out on top that time, and now we’re in a position to win it again for the second time in a row,” Starc said.
Regarding the WTC format, Starc said, “I believe there’s still potential for improvement. It’s difficult to perfect a system when only six series contribute to the points table. You get the same points for both home and away wins, and it’s a percentage-based model. It’s not a perfect system, but I’m confident that two strong teams will be facing each other in the final.”