'Love To Play 100 Test Matches': Australia's Mitchell Starc Explains Why He Does Not Play IPL

The 33-year-old seamer has played 77 Test matches so far for Australia and scalped 306 wickets at an average of 27.52 since making his debut in 2011.

Mitchell Starc in action.

Australia’s star pacer Mitchell Starc stated that the reason why he is not taking part in the IPL as he wants to lengthen his Test career play 100 matches for his country. Starc played a crucial role in the 2015 World Cup where Australia win the title and also in the 2021  T20 World Cup. Since the WTC Final is set to take place on Wednesday, the left-arm pacer will look to add another  ICC event to his name by defeating India at The Oval in London.

"To choose not to do certain things to prolong playing for Australia, I've tried to be smart about that," Starc said.

"Yeah, the money's nice, but I'd love to play 100 Test matches. Whether I get there or not, I don't know, but that would be a nice one to tick off. Hopefully, there's a little bit left in me." 

The 33-year-old seamer has played 77 Test matches so far for Australia and scalped 306 wickets at an average of 27.52 since making his debut in 2011.  He also took part in 110 ODIs and 58 T20s, picking 219 and 73 wickets respectively.

"To play three formats for over 10 years, it's been a lot of pain along the way, but I'm grateful I've gotten that far. Whilst I've tried to add to the bow, as soon as I lose airspeed, there's going to be someone chasing me.”

"Once that next left-armer is coming through, yeah, I'm sure I'll know when I know." 

"That (media criticism) might have bothered me a few years ago, but I've certainly settled on a happy place where it doesn't bother me anymore," said Starc who played only two editions of the IPL for the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

The ICC World Test Championship Final between India and Australia is scheduled to take place on Wednesday at the Oval in London. The match will begin at 3 PM IST.