Mitch Starc opens up on Warne criticism as he closes in on an elite club

Mitchell Starc says he’s sad he never got the chance to reconcile with spin king Shane Warne before his death and how criticism has helped motivate him as he closes in on 300 Test wickets.

Mitchell Starc has revealed his sadness that he never got to break bread with Shane Warne and reconcile the relentless criticism he copped from the Spin King.

Warne’s annual critiques of Starc’s form and body language served as both a blessing and a curse, because while the motivation helped drive him to the entrance door of one of cricket’s most elite clubs, the narrative for many years took away from the fact the left-armer was on a trajectory to go down as an all-time great.

In the months before he tragically died earlier this year of a heart attack, Warne told News Corp in an interview that his criticism of Starc was not personal and that he would like to catch up with him to discuss over a beer.

Starc on Thursday lamented never getting that chance, as he prepares for the first Test against South Africa at the Gabba, only four wickets away from the coveted milestone of 300 Test wickets.

Starc, preparing for the opening Test against South Africa, where he could break the 300 wicket milestone at the Gabba. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

“That’s part of the evolution. Learning to let things go,” said Starc.

“The disappointing part or the sad part is that we never got to have that conversation. I guess we’ll never know (whether it was personal).

“I don’t know – I never got a phone call to take up that offer (of a beer).

“Hindsight is a wonderful thing.”

It was at the Gabba in 2014 when Warne first caused a stir when he described Starc’s body language as “soft” on a sweltering hot day in Brisbane when conditions were oppressive for fast bowlers.

Starc’s camp felt Warne unfairly targeted the quick from that moment on, and even on the eve of last summer, the spin king boldly declared on Fox Cricket Australia should drop the left-armer for the first Ashes Test.

Warne’s manager James Erskine revealed on Fox Cricket the day of Warne’s death that the cricketing legend had privately acknowledged that he was wrong in his harsh assessment of Starc last summer, after the fast bowling ace dominated England in the first three Tests, including a wicket from the first ball of the series.

Warne questioned Starc’s form and place in the Australian Test team prior to the 2021/22 Ashes series and had criticised him prior. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

In an interview with News Corp before his death, Warne insisted he would have happily sat down for a “beer” with Starc, and hoped that his at times stinging commentary had served as some motivation, even if the big quick didn’t appreciate what was being said.

“I have no issue whatsoever. It’s not personal. If Mitchell Starc wants to talk about anything I’m happy to talk to him too. If he wants to have a beer and have a chat about stuff, I’ll say, ‘Mitch, mate, happy to chat,’” Warne told News Corp in an unpublished interview from last summer.

“It’s nothing personal. I’m there to judge what I see … It devalues the public out there (if you don’t give) your opinion. It looks like you’re having favourites.

“Unfortunately, I’ve got an opinion and I think it’s important that us commentators, or people in the game, yourself (journalists) included, you’ve got to be honest with your opinions and some people aren’t going to like it, which is fine.

“But maybe they might respect it, or maybe it might even inspire them. Who knows?

“They might say; ‘I’ll show you.’ That’s good too.”

For years, that was Starc’s attitude. But eventually he realised it was wearing him down carrying a chip on his shoulder, and over the past four years he has adopted a different, more mellow approach which has coincided with him finding the best form of his career as he prepares to reach a 300-milestone that history says is the most accurate marker for what constitutes a bowling great.

Starc will join an elite group of fast bowlers should he reach the 300 Test wicket milestone. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

“I did (use criticism as motivation) with everything. I was someone who listened to and read everything,” Starc said.

“And then that year (2018-19) we had multiple broadcasters start, everyone coming in with radio and whatever, that’s when it really doubled down on the noise and it really got away from (me).

“That’s where I learnt best to let things go and only worry about the groups that mattered most to me and those closest to me. That’s all I need to feel comfortable in myself. That was a point where it changed a fair bit for me, where I chose not to read things and it’s continued on where it doesn’t matter.

“I don’t pay attention to a lot of stuff which has made a huge difference.

“It’s part of cricket. You’re going to have your critics and everyone is entitled to have an opinion. I’ll just keep going about my cricket.”