Starc to rock up for the BBL season after a 11-year hiatus following the end of the Ashes against England in Jan.
Starc set to end 11-year BBL wait amid call to protect Test cricket.
After joining the Sydney Sixers, Mitchell Starc will play in his first BBL game in eleven seasons in January. However, he is convinced that Test cricket should not suffer because of any alterations made to the league.
The same summer that he made his Test debut for Australia, Starc participated in six games in the inaugural BBL season in 2011–12, including collecting two wickets in the Sixers’ victory in the championship match. He played four additional games in the following three editions, but he hasn’t played since because he has long prioritised Australia’s international summer.
However, Starc will have no obligations to Australia after the fifth Ashes Test concludes on January 8 after he retires from T20I cricket this year. Depending on how well he recovers from a demanding five-Test series, Starc might play up to three BBL games on January 11, 16, and 18. If the Sixers qualify, he could also play in the BBL finals.
Starc on playing the BBL
“I’ve got no cricket scheduled between the fifth Test and the IPL at this stage,” Starc said.”An opportunity to play some BBL cricket, I’ve obviously been a part of the small part of the Sixers throughout the 15 seasons, so it’s nice to return to potentially a playing role. Obviously, we’ve got the five Test matches to focus on, first and foremost. But post that, it’s obviously my intention to be available to play some part if called upon.”
Although Starc was thrilled about the prospect of playing for the Sixers again, he insisted that any future scheduling choices involving the BBL, which are probably going to take place during the privatisation talks, should not affect Australia’s Test summer.
“I’m fine with BBL windows,” Starc said. “The only view I have on it is the Test cricket schedule is not to be touched. Test cricket is the pinnacle. I don’t think Test cricket should make way for T20 cricket at all. Whether it’s the BBL, the IPL, anything, the Test summer is the Test summer. I would hate to see that change for domestic cricket.
“So that is not a snipe at anyone. That’s just my opinion of Test cricket and where it sits on my priority list. Whether you move the Big Bash into a smaller window and play back-to-back, it’s T20 cricket. It’s not as physically demanding as Test cricket. I know they’ve shortened the schedule already. I think that’s been a positive impact.”
Starc another statement player for BBL
In what is anticipated to be a huge season for the BBL, Starc’s signing is yet another important boost. Former India spinner R Aswhin is expected to play for the Sydney Thunder for the duration of the season, and if the PCB’s NOC suspension is overturned, Ashwin, Starc, David Warner, Steven Smith, and Pakistani batsman Babar Azam might all play in the same Sixers vs. Thunder game at the SCG on January 16.
Head of the BBL Alistair Dobson was thrilled that Starc had made himself available for the BBL. “To have Mitch signing off for Sixers it just shows that it’s still a comp that everyone wants to play in,” he said.
As Cricket Australia continues to look into the possibility of allowing private investment into the competition, one of the main points of contention among prospective investors interested in participating in the league is that the BBL has yet to establish a clear window for Australia Test players to be available.
“Global scheduling is a really challenging topic,” Dobson said. “It’s only getting more complicated. And the ability, not only for the BBL to grow, but the Australian team to continue to play great cricket around the world, is really important. How you combine all those things is part art, part science and a little bit of luck probably along the way. So the future FTP is a little way away, but as we look at the future of the BBL it will be part of those discussions.”