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Australian Pacer Announces Shock T20I Retirement Ahead of World Cup
Follow UsMitchell Starc has pulled the plug on the shortest format, with an eye on the longer formats
Australia’s gun pacer Mitchell Starc, on September 2 (Tuesday), has announced his retirement from the shortest format of the sport. The left-arm pacer decided to prolong his career in the ODI and Test formats, having not played a single T20I since the 2024 T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA.
The 35-year-old becomes the latest high-profile player to retire in a white-ball format, following Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis, who retired from ODIs. Across 65 appearances, Starc finished with 79 wickets at an average of 23.81, leading Australia to a T20 World Cup win in 2021.
"Test cricket is and has always been my highest priority," Starc said in a statement. "I have loved every minute of every T20 game I have played for Australia, particularly the 2021 World Cup, not just because we won but the incredible group and the fun along the way.
"Looking ahead to an away Indian Test tour, the Ashes and an ODI World Cup in 2027, I feel this is my best way forward to remain fresh, fit and at my best for those campaigns. It also gives the bowling group time to prepare for the T20 World Cup in the matches leading into that tournament."
In the past six months, Australia have played Ben Dwarshuis in that Starc role, which could be the way forward for the Men in Yellow.