T20 World Cup: Mitchell Starc rushes home to see Alyssa Healy’s big finale

Mitchell Starc has been given permission to fly home from South Africa to watch wife Alyssa Healy play in Sunday’s World Cup final.

Australian quick Mitchell Starc will be at the MCG on Sunday to watch his wife Alyssa Healy play for Australia in the T20 World Cup final against India. Picture: Getty Images

Justin Langer has granted Mitchell Starc permission to fly home early from South Africa to watch wife Alyssa Healy play in Sunday’s historic World Cup final at the MCG. Starc will board a plane from Johannesburg on Friday (AEDT) and miss Australia’s final one-day international against the Proteas on Saturday in Potchefstroom to make the express dash back home.

The married couple are cricket’s version of ships in the night and are rarely in the same country at the same time.

Starc has turned down millions of dollars to take part in this year’s IPL, for love – preferring to spend unbroken time with Healy at home in Sydney.

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Starc said it had been planned for some time that he would fly home if Australia made the women’s final.

“It’s been in the works for a while. I brought it up with Alyssa a while ago and had a chat with Gav (Gavin Dovey, team manager)) and Cracker (National selector Trevor Hohns) in India (last month) actually,” said Starc.

“I said if the case was that the girls made the final, I’d be pretty keen to get back and they were extremely supportive as is JL (Justin Langer) and Finchy (Aaron Finch) and the rest of the boys.

“I’m very appreciative for that and grateful to get the chance to go back and support Alyssa and the girls, much like she was around for our 2015 World Cup.

“That was very special for all the boys involved there to have their families involved and it’s a fantastic opportunity to repay that and looking forward to hopefully see the girls lift the trophy.”

Healy was in the crowd at a sold-out MCG when Starc engineered Australia’s ODI World Cup win back in 2015, and Langer said it was important that his big fast bowler be able to give his partner that same level of support in front of what shapes as a record crowd for women’s sport.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance for Mitch to watch Alyssa in a home World Cup final and so we were happy to allow him to return home to support his wife and be part of a fantastic occasion,” said Langer.

“It is something we have been talking about for a while and, given Mitch has had a considerable workload in all three formats this summer, his heading home a couple of days ahead of the rest of the squad means he will have a chance to refresh ahead of our home and away one-day internationals and Twenty20 internationals against New Zealand that will wrap up our season.

“We have plenty of fast bowling options with us here in South Africa with Josh Hazlewood, Jhye Richardson and Kane Richardson all sitting out our pervious match in Bloemfontein, and Mitch’s absence will offer one of them an opportunity to impress in Saturday’s match.”

Starc and Healy opened up to News Corp last year about how difficult it can be to maintain a relationship from opposite ends of the globe. Sunday night shapes as a special night where their cricketing lives can unite on the biggest stage.

Starc’s absence aside selectors have enacted a strict “pick-and-stick’’ policy for Australia’s 50-over team, despite their humbling series-defeat in South Africa.

Still reeling from last year’s defeat in the World Cup semi-final, Australia are adamant they were left two or three months short of finding their best combinations, and don’t want to be stuck in the same position when the crown goes on the line again in 2023.

A tired looking Australia have been surprisingly poor in a 2-0 series loss to South Africa, but are unlikely to make changes — outside of conditions based ones — for the dead-rubber finale.

Selectors have determined that when they pick a squad of players for an ODI series, the XI will be given an extended run at it to show what they’ve got.

New No 7 D’Arcy Short is likely to be given at least until the end of the season to cement his place.

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH