Mitchell Starc is an Australian cricketer. He is a left-arm fast bowler and is considered one of the best bowlers in white-ball cricket. Starc is known for bowling at a great pace and generating reverse swing.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Mitchell Aaron Starc [1]Cricket Australia was born on Tuesday, 30 January 1990 (age 34 years; as of 2024) in Baulkham Hills, New South Wales, Australia. His zodiac sign is Aquarius. According to Starc, he lived in a cul-de-sac (a street or passage that is closed at one end) and went to primary school with a few kids in the street, where he would play cricket with the milk crates as stumps. [2]The Sydney Morning Herald While growing up in New South Wales, Starc attended Homebush Boys High School, where he represented the school’s 1st grade cricket team. He aspired to play cricket for Australia since he was a kid.
Mitchell Starc studied at Homebush Boys High School
Physical Appearance
[3]Cricket Australia Height: 6′ 5″
Weight (approx.): 90 Kg
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Black
Body Measurements (approx.): Chest: 42″, Waist: 34″, Biceps: 14″
Family
Mitchell Starc is of Slovenia descent as his father’s bloodlines stretched back to Yugoslavia and Slovenia. [4]The Economic Times
Parents & Siblings
His father, Paul Starc, was a cricket coach, who died of cancer in February 2021. In an interview, Mitchell recalled his father’s contribution to shaping his cricket career and said,
He was a big part of my cricket – my learning periods, and keeping me in the game. He got me to that stage of professional cricket, and once I got there, he let me do my own thing. He certainly watched it all, and he’d make the odd jibe at me when my radar wasn’t right, but he wasn’t one who was going to tell me what to do.” [5]Cricket Australia
Mitchell Starc with his father, Paul
His mother’s name is Maria. He has a younger brother named Brandon Starc, a Commonwealth Games gold medallist in the high jump, and two younger sisters, Amanda Starc, and Tay Starc.
Mitchell Starc with his brother, Brandon Starc (right)
Wife
Mitchell Starc got married to fellow Australian cricketer Alyssa Healy on 15 April 2016 in Clareville on Sydney’s northern beaches. They threw a small reception party of about 98 people at Palm Beach. They earlier got engaged in 2015. Alyssa Healy is the niece of former Australian Test wicketkeeper Ian Healy. [6]The Sydney Morning Herald
Mitchell Starc and Alyssa Healy’s wedding photo
Relationships/Affairs
Mitchell Starc and Alyssa Healy started seeing each other when they were playing school cricket; Alyssa was nine, while Mitchell was around ten. In an interview, Alyssa Healy talked about their relationship and said,
We used to bump into each other quite a bit before we turned 20. We would catch up, talk on the phone. But we probably got together around 18, after meeting up in Brisbane one winter. I was up there playing hockey for NSW, and Mitch was training with the National Performance Squad. We had a horrific tournament, went out for some drinks, so did some of the cricket boys and we hung out. And then we were home and all of a sudden we were hanging out more. It was no real romantic story.”
Mitchell Starc and Alyssa Healy
Signature
Career
School and Domestic Cricket
At nine, Mitchell Starc started playing cricket for Northern Districts as a wicketkeeper. He represented Homebush Boys High School’s 1st grade cricket team. He later played for the Berala Sports Cricket Club in Sydney, where he would often wicket-keep and bowl in the same innings. After having a rookie contract with New South Wales for the 2008/09 summer, Starc was included in their squad in February 2009, replacing Aaron Bird, who had been suspended for his illegal bowling action.
A photo of Mitchell Starc clicked in 2010
On 5 March 2009, he made his first-class debut for New South Wales against Western Australia. In 2010, Starc played for the Australian Institute of Sport. In November 2017, he took a hat-trick in each innings of a Marsh Shield match, while playing for New South Wales against Western Australia, becoming the first bowler to achieve the feat. [7]Cricket Australia
Club Cricket
In April 2012, Yorkshire County Cricket Club signed Mitchell Starc for the 2012 County Championship, and he made his county championship debut against Northamptonshire on 30 May 2012.
International Debut
| Format | Date | Opponent | Venue | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 1 December 2011 | New Zealand | Gabba, Brisbane | Took 2 wickets |
| ODI | 20 October 2010 | India | Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam | Took 1 wicket |
| T20I | 7 September 2012 | Pakistan | Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai | Took 1 wicket |
International Records
| Records | Details |
|---|---|
| Most wickets taken in a single edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup | 17 wickets in the 2019 World Cup |
| Fastest bowler in the history of ODI cricket to reach 150 and 200 wickets | Achieved the feat by taking 77 and 102 matches respectively |
| Fastest bowler in the history of Cricket World Cups to reach 50 wickets | Achieved the feat in just 19 WC games |
| Fastest recorded delivery in a Test match | 160.4 km/h – He achieved the feat in the 2nd Test match against New Zealand in 2015. |
| Second fastest test half-century by an Australian | Archived the feat in 32 balls in a match against South Africa in 2012 |
| First tailender to have survived 100 balls in both Test innings | Achieved the feat in the 2013 Border-Gavaskar Trophy |
5 Wickets haul in innings
| Test | ODI | T20I | FC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 9 | 0 | 21 |
10 Wickets haul in a match
| Test | ODI | T20I | FC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
World Cup Stats
| Year | Matches | Wickets | Best Bowling | Average | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 8 | 22 | 6/28 | 10.18 | 3.50 |
| 2019 | 10 | 27 | 5/26 | 18.59 | 5.43 |
| 2023 | 10 | 16 | 3/34 |
In the 2015 World Cup final, Mitchell Stark set Australia on course for another World Cup title by taking Brendon McCullum’s wicket with just the fifth ball of the match.
Six years ago today.
World Cup final, first over.
Starc to McCullum:
📹 @ICCpic.twitter.com/y63Uo811I6
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) March 29, 2021
Indian Premier League
The Royal Challengers Bangalore signed him for the 2014 IPL. Due to a knee injury, Starc joined the RCB at the fag end of the 2015 IPL. Due to a foot injury, Starc did not play in the 2016 IPL. In February 2017, Starc parted ways with the Royal Challengers Bangalore, citing family commitments, and to prepare for the upcoming 2017 ICC Champions Trophy.
Mitchell Starc’s Instagram post about his parting ways with the RCB in 2017
At the 2018 IPL auctions, Kolkata Knight Riders bought him for A$1.8 million; however, he could not play any game due to injury. He skipped the 2022 season, citing “bubble fatigue” as a reason. At the 2024 IPL auctions, Mitchell Starc was bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs. 24.75 crore (approximately $4.4 million AUD). [8]The Quint
Injuries
Mitchell Starc’s career has often been interrupted by multiple injuries. According to Mitchell, whenever he got injured, he would turn to Alyssa and watch her game. He says,
Whenever I’ve been injured I’ve always had Alyssa to lean on, and her games to watch, which gives you something else to focus on. That’s happened throughout my career actually, I’ve seen a lot of her cricket, thanks to my injuries!”
Controversies
Kieron Pollard-Mitchell Starc Scuffle in IPL 2014
On 6 May 2014, while playing for the RCB in a match against Mumbai Indians, Mitchell Starc had an altercation with Kieron Pollard after he bowled a bouncer to Pollard which Pollard failed to hit. Later, Pollard pulled away from the crease when Starc started taking his run-up for the next delivery; however, Starc didn’t stop and bowled the ball at Pollard’s leg after which Pollard swung his bat, threatening Starc to throw it at him. Following the incident, Starc and Pollard were fined a portion of their match fee (Starc 75% and Pollard 50%) and charged with offences under the IPL’s code of conduct. [9]Deccan Chronicle
Reprimanded by the ICC
In January 2015, the International Cricket Council (ICC) reprimanded him for an “exaggerated celebration” after he took Murali Vijay’s wicket; Starc celebrated by screaming in Vijay’s face. He was charged with committing a Level 1 breach of the ICC code of conduct. [10]The Guardian
Fined for throwing a ball at Craig
In 2015, he was fined 50% of his match fee after he threw a ball at New Zealand tailender Craig in the first Test match against New Zealand. Starc threw the ball at Craig in frustration as Craig had hit two boundaries off Starc’s bowling. [11]The Guardian
Awards and Achievements
- Allan Border Medal: 2022
Mitchell Starc with the Allan Border Medal at Manuka Oval, Canberra
- Australian Men’s ODI Player of the Year: 2022
- Shane Warne Men’s Test Player of the Year: 2017
- 2015 World Cup Player of the Tournament
Mitchell Starc received the 2015 World Cup Player of the Tournament award from Sachin Tendulkar
Car Collection
Mitchell Starc has a collection of swanky cars including a Jaguar F-Type, a Mercedes-Benz G-class, and a Lamborghini Huracan EVO which has a 5.2L V10 engine.
Salary
At the 2024 IPL auctions, Mitchell Starc was the most expensive buy in the history of IPL; Kolkata Knight Riders bought him for Rs. 24.75 crore (approximately $4.4 million AUD). [12]The Quint
Assets & Properties
In November 2023, Mitchell Starc and his wife, Alyssa Healy, bought a Terrey Hills estate known as Charlotte Park for almost $25 million. [13]The Sunday Morning Herald
Net Worth
In 2023, his net worth was estimated to be around Rs. 174 crore. [14]The Economic Times
Favourites
- Wicket Keeper/Batter: Adam Gilchrist
- Bowler: Glenn McGrath
- Sports: Golf, Tennis
- Food: Chocolate, Ice-cream
- Actress: Emma Thompson
Facts/Trivia
- According to Starc, when he was two years old, his mother clicked his photo with a bat and ball, and he started playing cricket seriously when he turned ten. Starc says,
I think I started playing properly around under 10s. Alyssa was on my junior representative cricket side. Our home ground was Cheltenham Oval [on Sydney’s upper north shore]. My dad coached our team a bit, and so did Alyssa’s dad, Greg, and I just remember she had this bright blonde bob, and was trying to take my wicketkeeping spot!”
- In an interview, Mitchell Starc talked about how he turned into becoming a bowler after being a wicketkeeper for a long time in juniors. He said,
I actually wasn’t a fast bowler for a long time in juniors. I really did want to be a keeper and a slogger with the bat. But then as I got taller, I was told to go and bowl with the quicks. As part of one squad when I was about 15, I spent a whole winter in an indoor cricket centre. I was given a bucket of balls, and was sent to the far net to bowl off one step, again and again and again. That was the whole session. That’s how I developed my bowling action.”
- He plays with the Jersey Number 56 in both International and T20 leagues like IPL and Big Bash.
- Mitchell considers getting his baggy green cap from Richie Benaud in Brisbane in 2011 and the 2015 World Cup win his biggest memories in cricket. [15]The Sydney Morning Herald
- Mitchell Starc and his wife, Alyssa Healy, are addicted to PlayStation. [16]The Sydney Morning Herald
- In May 2012, Starc was detained at Heathrow Airport, where he was questioned for four hours and then deported as his visa form was not correctly filled. [17]The Sydney Morning Herald
- In March 2013, in the third Test of Australia’s tour of India, he fell 1 run short of becoming the first Australian to score a Test century batting 9 or below for 65 years when he was caught behind by MS Dhoni at 99.
- He follows a non-vegetarian diet and often enjoys roast lamb as a relish with veggies cooked by his wife. [18]The Sydney Morning Herald
- He is a supporter of the Greater Western Sydney Giants in the Australian Football League and the St George Illawarra Dragons in the National Rugby League.
- In his leisure time, he likes to play Golf.
Mitchell Starc playing Golf
- Among all cricket formats, Starc enjoys playing Test cricket the most.
- He is a dog lover and often posts pictures of his pets on social media.
Mitchell Starc with his pet dog
- Mitchell Starc often enjoys alcoholic beverages on various occasions.
Mitchell Starc with a glass of beer
