Test cricket will always remain my priority: Mitchell Starc after T20I retirement

Star Australian pacer Mitchell Starc has reaffirmed his commitment to playing Test cricket, just days after announcing his retirement from T20Is. He stated that he is ready to “push his body to the limits” to achieve further success in the longest format of the game. In his retirement statement, Starc explained that he was stepping away from T20Is to remain fit for the upcoming home Ashes this summer, an away Test series in India, and the ODI World Cup scheduled for 2027.

As a result, the Australian left-handed pacer, who has previously skipped the Indian Premier League to conserve energy for international duties, will miss the T20 World Cup set to be held in India and Sri Lanka early next year. "For lack of a better term, I want to milk my body as much as I can for as much Test cricket as possible. That was never going to be off the table," Starc was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

"I just felt like one of the other (formats) had to give. I feel like I've got plenty to offer the ODI team and with that goal of getting my body to 2027 - but also being good enough to be in that team for the World Cup in 2027. I felt like this was my best opportunity to prolong my Test career and get to that World Cup (in 2027)."

Starc played a key part in Australia's maiden T20 World Cup title triumph in the UAE in 2021.

"I umm-ed and ahh-ed about which was the right (format) to put to the side. If I wasn't going to be in the frame for 2027 then I didn't want to hold up the spot. I still feel like I've got plenty to offer that ODI team. I'd thought about it for a while. I feel like it was probably a good time. I'm 35 now, Tests have always been my priority and they will remain my priority," he said.

Starc, who played in three World Cups from 2015 to 2023, now has the chance to finish his career as the greatest ODI World Cup bowler of all time. The Australian pacer needs three wickets to overtake Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan (68 wickets from five tournaments between 1996 and 2011) and six wickets to surpass Glenn McGrath (71 wickets in four World Cups — 1996, 1999, 2003, and 2007).

Starc felt it was the right time to leave the T20 side, as the team was in a strong position with new players coming through.

"The T20 team seems pretty settled with the guys that have come in, they've done some great stuff. Nathan Ellis is flying, Ben Dwarshuis has played a great role, Spencer (Johnson) has done some good stuff when he's played, Sean Abbott as well... I feel like that team is in a great spot and I don't need to interrupt that," he said.

The 35-year-old pacer is now eagerly looking ahead to the home ODI series against India and a potential Sheffield Shield appearance before the Ashes.

"The three one-dayers (against India) are a nice, controlled lead-in to five Test matches, 10 overs a game, time on the legs, they're not a day after each other. There's some Shield games that can be added to that schedule. (But) I think it's important not to have a concrete way of thinking," he said.

"At times we haven't had time for a Shield game before (Test) summers, at times we've had time for one or two. But I've enjoyed them in the past and will probably look to play one this year."