Australia | Bowler
Mitchell Aaron Starc is an Australian international cricketer who plays for the Australian national team and New South Wales in domestic cricket.
| Full Name Mitchell Aaron Starc | Born January 30, 1990, | Age 35y 98d |
| Batting Style Left hand Bat | Bowling Style Left arm Fast | Playing Role Bowler |
| Playing Role Bowler | RELATIONS AJ Healy (wife) | Born Place Baulkham Hills, Sydney, New South Wales |
Teams
Mitchell Starc: The Fearsome Left-Arm Pacer of Australian Cricket
Starc, born on January 30, 1990, in Baulkham Hills, New South Wales, Australia, is widely regarded as one of the most lethal left-arm fast bowlers in cricket history. His towering frame (6’6″) and ability to generate extreme pace and swing have made him a nightmare for batters across formats. From humble beginnings to global stardom, Starc’s journey is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and relentless skill .
Early Career & Domestic Cricket
Starc’s cricketing journey began in Sydney, where he attended Home Bush Boys High School before representing New South Wales (NSW) in domestic cricket. Despite early struggles with consistency and injuries, his raw talent shone through. In 2008, he debuted for NSW in first-class cricket, showcasing glimpses of his potential with sharp bounce and swing . His breakthrough came during the 2010–11 Big Bash League (BBL) season, where he claimed 14 wickets at an economy of 7.05, earning recognition as a rising star .
Starc’s domestic career saw him become a key player for NSW and the Sydney Thunder in the BBL. By 2019–20, he emerged as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker, reinforcing his reputation as a match-winner in high-pressure situations. His performances also earned him stints in English county cricket with Hampshire, where he refined his skills against top-tier competition .
International Career: Dominance Across Formats
Starc’s international debut came in 2010 in ODIs, but it was his Test debut against New Zealand in December 2011 that marked the start of his ascent. Initially criticized for inconsistency, he evolved into Australia’s spearhead, combining aggression with strategic nous .
Test Cricket
In Tests, Starc has taken 227 wickets at an average of 28.20 , including a career-best 6/44 against South Africa in 2016. His ability to exploit swing and seam movement, particularly in English conditions, made him pivotal in Ashes series victories. Notably, his fiery spell of 5/46 at Lord’s in 2019 dismantled England’s batting lineup .
ODIs: World Cup Heroics
Mitchell Starc’s ODI career is legendary. At the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, he took 22 wickets at 10.18, the tournament’s highest tally 126. He earned Player of the Tournament honors as Australia won the title 4. With 244 wickets in 127 ODIs, his consistency shines 8. He also holds the record for most ODI runs (2,892) without a century—a quirk of aggressive lower-order batting.
T20 Internationals
As Australia’s T20 captain (2022–2024), Starc took 71 wickets in 79 matches at 8.06 economy. His 3/26 in the 2021 T20 World Cup final vs. New Zealand helped Australia win their maiden T20 title.
Mitchell Starc IPL factfile
– As of 2024, Mitchell Starc was the costliest player procured at an IPL auction when Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) made a successful bid of INR 24.75 crore (US$ 2.98 million approx.) for him at the auction before the 2024 IPL.
– He had a mixed bag of a tournament, but when it mattered the most – in the playoffs, Starc brought out his best. He finished the season with 17 wickets in 14 matches as KKR lifted their third IPL title.
– In the IPL 2025 auction, Starc was picked up by Delhi Capitals for INR 11.75 crore.
– One of the most sought-after players in T20 cricket, Starc had played only 27 matches across the first 15 editions of the IPL, with injuries, international commitments, and personal reasons kept keeping him away at various points.
– In the two IPLs that Starc played before KKR got him for 2024, he took 14 and 20 wickets for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), in 2014 and 2015.
Other T20 Leagues
- Big Bash League (BBL) : Starc remains a Sydney Thunder icon, contributing to their 2016 title with 14 wickets.
- Pakistan Super League (PSL) : Played for Lahore Qalandars in 2023, adding variety to his T20 resume.
- Caribbean Premier League (CPL) : Represented Barbados Tridents, leveraging his pace to dominate West Indies batters.
T10 Leagues
While Starc has yet to feature prominently in the T10 format, his adaptability suggests potential for success in shorter, high-octane contests.
Strong Zone: Death Bowling & Swing Mastery
Starc’s greatest strength lies in his death bowling , where he excels due to his lethal yorker and ability to bowl at 150kph , often sealing matches with last-over heroics. Moreover , his left-arm angle creates awkward angles for right-handed batters, while his swing variations —particularly reverse swing in overcast conditions—make him a consistent threat in the powerplay and middle overs. Additionally , his composure under pressure is evident in his frequent match-winning performances. Notably , his 5/15 against India in the 2019 ODI series remains one of his most iconic spells. further cementing his reputation as a clutch performer. Furthermore , his mastery of yorkers —including executing 11 in 12 balls at 145kph with reverse swing—underscores his unparalleled death-over expertise, even amid challenges like the absence of a refined slower ball.
Legacy & Records
Mitchell Starc’s legacy is etched in his 22 World Cup wickets (2015 and 2019) , two Ashes triumphs, and a T20 World Cup gold. He holds records such as:
- Most ODI wickets by an Australian (244) .
- Fastest to 150 ODI wickets (99 matches) .
- Player of the Tournament in 2015 ODI World Cup .
Beyond statistics, Starc’s influence extends to inspiring a generation of fast bowlers. His work ethic—overcoming injuries like a stress fracture in 2014—and tactical intelligence have redefined modern fast bowling. As he approaches retirement, his name stands alongside Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee as one of Australia’s greatest left-arm pacemen .
Mitchell Starc Career Stats
Bowling
| Format | Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 96 | 184 | 18535 | 10534 | 382 | 6/48 | 11/94 | 27.57 | 3.40 | 48.5 | 20 | 15 | 2 |
| ODIs | 127 | 127 | 6512 | 5711 | 244 | 6/28 | 6/28 | 23.40 | 5.26 | 26.6 | 12 | 9 | 0 |
| T20Is | 65 | 65 | 1458 | 1881 | 79 | 4/20 | 4/20 | 23.81 | 7.74 | 18.4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| FC | 148 | 274 | 27058 | 15145 | 565 | 8/73 | 11/94 | 26.80 | 3.35 | 47.8 | 29 | 23 | 4 |
| List A | 158 | 158 | 8200 | 7049 | 320 | 6/25 | 6/25 | 22.02 | 5.15 | 25.6 | 16 | 12 | 0 |
| T20s | 153 | 150 | 3284 | 4340 | 207 | 5/35 | 5/35 | 20.96 | 7.92 | 15.8 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
Batting & Fielding
| Format | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s | Ct | St |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 96 | 139 | 29 | 2217 | 99 | 20.15 | 3689 | 60.09 | 0 | 10 | 221 | 49 | 44 | 0 |
| ODIs | 127 | 75 | 27 | 577 | 52* | 12.02 | 744 | 77.55 | 0 | 1 | 42 | 14 | 46 | 0 |
| T20Is | 65 | 21 | 11 | 98 | 14 | 9.80 | 100 | 98.00 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 22 | 0 |
| FC | 148 | 195 | 47 | 3108 | 99 | 21.00 | 5285 | 58.80 | 0 | 13 | 321 | 63 | 72 | 0 |
| List A | 158 | 91 | 35 | 745 | 52* | 13.30 | 953 | 78.17 | 0 | 1 | 56 | 18 | 54 | 0 |
| T20s | 153 | 54 | 29 | 225 | 29 | 9.00 | 245 | 91.83 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 2 | 57 | 0 |
Mitchell Starc T20 Stats
Bowling
| Tournament | Teams | Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPL | 3 teams | 52 | 49 | 1047 | 1503 | 65 | 5/35 | 5/35 | 23.12 | 8.61 | 16.1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| BBL | SS | 10 | 10 | 225 | 297 | 20 | 3/17 | 3/17 | 14.85 | 7.92 | 11.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| CLT20 | 2 teams | 11 | 11 | 245 | 315 | 18 | 3/19 | 3/19 | 17.50 | 7.71 | 13.6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vitality Blast | YOR | 10 | 10 | 221 | 218 | 21 | 3/24 | 3/24 | 10.38 | 5.91 | 10.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Batting & Fielding
| Tournament | Teams | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s | Ct | St |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPL | 3 teams | 52 | 23 | 12 | 111 | 29 | 10.09 | 119 | 93.27 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 29 | 0 |
| BBL | SS | 10 | 5 | 4 | 13 | 8* | 13.00 | 14 | 92.85 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| CLT20 | 2 teams | 11 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1.00 | 3 | 33.33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Vitality Blast | YOR | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0* | 0.00 | 1 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Debut/Last Matches of Mitchell Starc
Test Matches
Debut
Australia vs New Zealand at Brisbane – December 01 – 04, 2011
Last
Sri Lanka vs Australia at Galle – February 06 – 09, 2025
ODI Matches
Debut
India vs Australia at Visakhapatnam – October 20, 2010
Last
Australia vs Pakistan at Adelaide – November 08, 2024
T20I Matches
Debut
Pakistan vs Australia at Dubai (DICS) – September 07, 2012
Last
India vs Australia at Gros Islet – June 24, 2024
FC Matches
Debut
West Aust vs NSW at Sydney – March 05 – 08, 2009
Last
Sri Lanka vs Australia at Galle – February 06 – 09, 2025
List A Matches
Debut
West Aust vs NSW at North Sydney – November 01, 2009
Last
Australia vs Pakistan at Adelaide – November 08, 2024
T20 Matches
Debut
NSW vs Tasmania at Hobart – December 30, 2009
Last
DC vs SRH at Hyderabad – May 05, 2025
2025 IPL TEAM
Delhi Capitals Sunrisers Hyderabad Rajasthan Royals Chennai Super kings Gujrat Titans Kolkata knight Riders Lucknow Super Giants Mumbai Indians Punjab Kings Royal Challengers Bengaluru