I probably didn’t want to play cricket at all: Mitchell Starc looks back during tough times Cricket News – Times of India

Melbourne: Shortly before the culmination of an incredible turnaround he won Australia’s Men’s Cricketer of the Year award, Mitchell stark The game was on the verge of quitting.
Starc was not taking the wickets expected of a fast bowler of his caliber. He was also leaking a lot of runs on the field and was losing his father to cancer.
While Starc managed to keep his cricket going despite a below-par dismissal against India in the 2020-21 Test series at home, he soon lost his father to the dreaded disease.

“Obviously last year was particularly difficult on and off the field,” Starc was quoted as saying by foxsports.com.au. allan border medalHighest individual award in Australian men’s cricket.
Looking at the turbulent times, he said, “I might not have played the cricket I wanted to and at some stages, I might not have wanted to play cricket at all.”
The pacer was heavily criticized for taking just 11 wickets at 40.72 in the series against India.
His performance in the ICC T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates also left much to be desired, with the fast bowler conceding 60 runs in his four overs in the final.

Criticism by Spin Legend Shane Warne Didn’t help even before the Ashes and Starc made it clear that it didn’t go down well with him.
He finished the Ashes as one of the team’s key players after beating England 4–0.
Starc played all five Ashes Tests and took 19 wickets at an average of 25.37.
On criticism of the legendary Australian spinner, Starc said, “I think, what was it? It was a straight half-volley on the leg-stump, I think someone (Warne) said.”
“What do you want me to talk to him (Warne) about? I am not interested in that at all. He (Warne) is entitled to his opinion. I am going to go about my cricket the way I want to , and I’ve got the support network of my family and I get to play cricket with some of my best teammates, so I’m pretty comfortable where I am,” Starc said.
Starc, who took 43 wickets across all formats in a span of 12 months, dismissed the all-rounder Michelle Marshaw by one vote.
He is only the fifth fast bowler to win the award since its inception, joining Pat Cummins, Michelle Johnson, brett lee And Glenn McGrath,
It was a double delight for Starc as he also won the men’s ODI Player of the Year.
Starc said what matters to him is the opinion of his friends and family, including his cricketer wife Alyssa HealyWho keeps wickets for the Australian women’s team and bats explosively at the top of the order.

“I have made it an important point for myself, I suppose, if you wish, to ignore opinions outside the realm of my faith, which I did a few years ago. And I think it gave me a beautiful For the past few years either I haven’t been playing the cricket I wanted to, or definitely challenges off the field.
“I have a wife who plays at the highest level and I have some close teammates who play international cricket, so I have a good sounding board in this regard,” Starc said.