'I probably didn’t want to play cricket at all' - Mitchell Starc reflects on 'tough' phase

Mitchell Starc recently won the prestigious Allan border medal (Australia's Men's Cricketer of the year award) for his performances in 2021. Starc was on the verge of quitting the sport altogether after some disappointing performances the year before as he was conceding too many runs and was unable to get as many wickets as he would have liked.

His life outside the field wasn't easy either, as he lost his father to cancer right after the series against India in 2020-21, in which he had a below-par performance. As reported by foxsports.com, he said, “Obviously last year was particularly tough on and off the field. I probably didn’t play the cricket I wanted to and, at certain stages, I probably didn’t want to play cricket at all.”

Starc did not have a particularly good final against New Zealand in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 in UAE. "It was a straight half-volley on leg stump," Shane Warne criticized.

“What would you like me to speak to him (Warne) about? It doesn’t interest me at all. He’s entitled to his opinion. I’m just going to go about my cricket the way I’d like to, and I’ve got my family support networks and I get to play cricket with some of my best mates, so I’m pretty comfortable with where I’m at,” he said in response.

The 31-year old was last seen in the Ashes where he played all five matches and picked up 19 wickets. He was instrumental in Australia's one-sided 4-0 victory against the English side, and he picked 43 wickets across formats in 2021 to become only the fifth fast bowler to win the Allan Border medal. Mitchel Marsh, the all-rounder, was behind by just a single vote.