Mitchell Starc reacts to losing $4.43m IPL deal, reveals plans to play on past 2027 Ashes series

Mitchell Starc was part of a $14.6m IPL mass axing of Australian stars - with the devastating quick offering a disappointing detail about the carnage, as he also revealed his determination to play the 2027 Ashes.

Mitchell Starc will seek to play past his 37th birthday, aiming to join coach Andrew McDonald in being a part of Australia’s monster 2027 campaign.

With his body in better condition than it was a year ago, Starc is set to front up for Australia when the men’s home international season begins on Monday at the MCG with the first one-dayer against Pakistan.

West Australian paceman Lance Morris has been added to the Aussie one-day squad for the game with Josh Hazlewood missing the first game of the series while he plays in the Sheffield Shield for NSW.

Queensland seamer Xavier Bartlett will join the squad for the second one-dayer in Adelaide on Friday.

Will Sutherland will also join the squad later in the series as a standby player.

Closing in on 700 international wickets, Starc remains a three-format player and is not putting a finish line on his career. Cricket Australia announced during the week that McDonald had extended his contract to lead the men’s national team until deep into 2027, meaning he will be at the helm for Australia’s one-day World Cup defence.

Mitchell Starc is in no rush to hang up the boots for Australia. Picture: Getty

That calendar year also takes in marquee Test series in India and England, the World Test Championship final and the 150-year anniversary Test against.

Nathan Lyon has spoken of his desire to be part of the 2027 Test campaigns, and Starc on Saturday said he would like to complete another cycle, albeit acknowledging that there was plenty of water to pass under the bridge to get to that point.

“Try to I guess,” Starc told this masthead when asked whether he wanted to get to 2027.

“Yeah we’ll see how we go, that’s a long way down the track.”

Starc manfully fought through last year’s Ashes tour and ensuing World Cup in India, topping the wickets tally during the England Tests and then overcoming a modest league stage to star in the knockout stages of the one-day showpiece.

Mitchell Starc (R), alongside Josh Hazlewood (L) and Pat Cummins after winning the World Cup last year. Picture: Getty

The left-arm quick, who turns 35 in January, said he was fitter than he had been a year ago.

“I had a few issues through the World Cup and after so I’m better placed now than I was then, but obviously 12 months older,” Starc said.

But just what he was going through has remained a secret, and Starc has no intentions of that changing.

“No one needs to know about that.”

Having been a record $4.43m signing at last year’s Indian Premier League auction, Starc was not retained by the Kolkata Knight Riders despite helping them to the title earlier this year.

Philosophical about that call, Starc is set to nominate for the auction.

“I still haven’t heard from them. It is what it is, that’s franchise cricket, so all barring the Hyderabad boys (Pat Cummins and Travis Head) will be in the auction.”

Kolkata Knight Riders opted not to retain fast bowler Mitchell Starc. Picture: AFP

Paceman Scott Boland and off-spinner Corey Rocchiccioli trained with the Aussie one-day side in the MCG nets on Saturday, ahead of their appearance for Australia A in Melbourne.

Starc, who posed with fellow left-armer and Pakistani new ball weapon Shaheen Shah Afridi at the ‘G on Saturday, said he was excited to confront the tourists.

“It’‘s a different way for us to start the summer with the white-ball series before the Test matches,” Starc said.

“But exciting to have Pakistan here. They’re full of exciting cricketers, hopefully exciting game to watch on Monday.”

Openers Matt Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk will get the chance to stake respective claims ahead of the Champions Trophy early next year by partnering at the top of the order in the absence of Mitch Marsh and Head, both of whom are missing the one-dayers with their respective wives expecting.

Originally published as Mitchell Starc reacts to losing $4.43m IPL deal, reveals plans to play on past 2027 Ashes series