Mitchell Starc reveals he had a no-nonsense chat with George Bailey after his World Cup axing

Mitch Starc could have made $10 million playing in the IPL over the past seven years. But he put his country first. So how did he handle his brutal T20 axing?

Mitchell Starc took two wickets in the first over against England. Picture: Getty Images

Mitchell Starc has revealed he had a no-nonsense chat with George Bailey about his shock World Cup axing, declaring he has no regrets over his $10 million IPL sacrifice.

The left-arm destroyer’s first-over demolition of England’s top order at the SCG on Saturday night snapshotted the error Australia might have made in not playing Starc for the final World Cup match against Afghanistan, where rapid-fire wickets could have opened up a semi-final opportunity.

Starc refused to divulge details of his heart-to-heart with the National Selector, other than to confirm he shared some “strong opinions” on his shock axing.

“George and I have spoken and that is where it will stay,” said Starc after routing England with a four-wicket masterclass.

“I had strong opinions on it and had a conversation, and that’s where it is.”

Despite his extraordinary record taking first over wickets particularly in white ball cricket, Starc was taken away from the new ball in the World Cup for most matches, but is adamant he can still spearhead Australia at the next World Cup in the USA in 2024.

“Yeah, why not? I don’t have to worry about T20s for another nine months,” said Starc.

Mitchell Starc after knocking over Chris Woakes on Saturday. Picture: Getty Images

“I spoke to George at length. It was a good conversation. Many different things were floated there.

“I still have ambitions to play T20 cricket for Australia but it is a long time to the next one and a lot of water to go under the bridge. So we will face that when we get to that.”

After his World Cup dumping, it was suggested that Starc had sabotaged his Twenty20 form by continually snubbing the Indian Premier League for the past seven years.

Starc says maybe so, but refuses to apologise for making Test cricket his No.1 driving force.

“It may have, but if I’d gone in there and having no break and playing 12 months of the year, what does that affect? Does that affect my body? Do I break down? Does it affect my red-ball cricket?,” said Starc.

“You can’t just sit there and go, ‘he should go to the IPL because he’d be a better T20 bowler.’

“What’s the downside of that? Do I give away a format of the game because I’m playing 12 months of the year?

“In my mind I don’t regret any of those decisions not to go.”

For that reason there is a feeling Australian cricket has grossly underappreciated the quiet sacrifices Starc has made for his country, electing to preserve his body and mind for Test cricket rather than make easy money in the IPL.

Despite being a lightning rod for criticism over the years for his performances in Test cricket, the truth is Starc has been Australia’s best Test bowler for the past 18 months and in the upcoming Test series against the West Indies he is on track to become the fastest Australian to 300 wickets after Dennis Lillee, Glenn McGrath, Warne and Mitchell Johnson.

It’s understood Starc was ranked lower than Josh Hazlewood on this year’s Cricket Australia contract list, despite the fact he powered last summer’s Ashes triumph and was the preferred second quick alongside Pat Cummins in Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Australia currently has a headache on its hands with gun all-rounder Cameron Green intending to go to his first IPL in the midst of one of the most packed calendars Australian cricket has seen.

Mitchell Starc took two wickets in the first over against England. Picture: Getty Images

Green pulled up sore from the first ODI against England and has returned to Perth to prepare for the first Test – another reminder of the delicate management needed to ensure the prodigy does not burn out.

Starc refused to comment on whether his IPL sacrifices had been underappreciated, but confirmed the decision to knock back at least one-two million dollars a year for the past seven years was made chiefly with Australian Test cricket as his No.1 priority.

“That’s not for me to say. It’s my decision. I feel like particularly last year, if I take my Test cricket from the past 12-18 months and how that’s benefited from the break that I’ve had through IPL periods, that’s paid for itself I guess,” said Starc.

“It’s always been my decision and that is part of the reason that I do it, to give myself that break physically and mentally. And the other side of it is to see and spend time with my wife (Australian women’s captain Alyssa Healy) away from cricket.”

Starc said even without playing IPL it would be impossible for him to continue playing all three formats for Australia for the long-term.

Originally published as Mitchell Starc reveals he had a no-nonsense chat with George Bailey after his World Cup axing