The experienced Australian pacer forgot to inform the captain about his retirement decision.
With the World Cup looming, Mitchell Starc’s sudden announcement to retire from international T20 cricket surprised many. Perhaps the biggest shock was for Mitchell Marsh himself. Even as the current Australian captain, he hadn’t sensed a thing! Starc admitted, he hadn’t thought to tell Marsh.
Considering Australia’s packed Test schedule next year and the 2027 ODI World Cup, Starc bid farewell to international T20s last Tuesday. The country’s most successful pacer in this format has now closed this chapter of his career.
In 65 T20Is for Australia, Starc has taken 79 wickets. Only leg-spinner Adam Zampa, with 130 wickets, has taken more in this format for the nation.
Next February, Australia will compete in the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. If all goes well, Marsh will lead the team in the global event. Starc’s decision to step away was motivated by a desire to stay fit for Test and ODI cricket.
Starc shared his retirement decision only with coach Andrew McDonald and long-time pacer teammates Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. Marsh learned about it via Instagram.
Starc told Cricket Australia that he felt embarrassed about Marsh finding out through social media and expressed his regret.
“I probably should have called Mitch (Mitchell Marsh). He messaged me and said he found out about my retirement on Instagram. I felt bad about that—I didn’t tell the captain. Sorry, Mitch.”
“I had told them (coach and two teammates) and didn’t ask anything further. I spoke to Ronnie (Andrew McDonald), then told the other two (Cummins and Hazlewood) that I was retiring. Yes, it was pretty much like that.”
