Starc turned down millions of dollars in the IPL. He has no regrets ahead of his 100th Test

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Kingston: “I don’t know why we’re talking about it so much.”

It is seven minutes and 40 seconds into a Mitchell Starc press conference, on the outfield of Sabina Park in Jamaica, two days out from the left-armer’s 100th Test for Australia starting on Saturday (Sunday 4.30am AEST).

The 35-year-old has done everything possible to deflect attention from his milestone match this week in the third and final Test of a one-sided series against the West Indies.

He answers questions politely and sincerely but there is an underlying unease at being asked to talk about himself so much.

In his 99 Tests as a fast bowler, Starc has prided himself on keeping his head down and getting on with business. When his body is sore, he is the last person to complain.

When thrown an opening ‘Dorothy Dixer’ about what it feels like to reach 100 Tests – becoming just the second Australian fast bowler, after Glenn McGrath, to achieve the feat – Starc quickly plays it down.

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc will bring up his 100th Test in Kingston this week.

“Same as every other week,” Starc said. “A chance to win another Test match away from home, which is never easy to do. I guess it makes me feel old being 99 games under the belt.”

How about the added attention on him this week, as he eyes another five wickets to reach 400 Test scalps?

“I don’t like it. Just get on with the cricket.”

If there’s one thing people will remember about Starc, it’s that he sacrificed millions of dollars in the Indian Premier League to ensure his body and mind stayed sharp for the rigours of representing his country in attritional, four and five-day cricket.

Australia’s Mitchell Starc celebrates getting the wicket of New Zealand’s Brendon McCullum on Test debut.

“The years that I did miss franchise cricket or didn’t play anything, I don’t regret that at all,” Starc said.

“I wouldn’t change it,” Starc said. “Test cricket was the hardest format to feel like I was either good enough for, or capable of doing. To get that opportunity, I wasn’t going to let that pass up.

“To get my body in as good a spot as I could for Australia to play 99 games, or whatever it may be, spend some time at home and with [wife] Alyssa [Healy], that’s the reason why I did those things.

“Growing up, it was always [about] wanting to pull on the baggy green. I didn’t think I’d play one game, but to have 99 chances to do that has been a real privilege.”

As for his future, Starc says he will get through this Test, the upcoming Ashes, and then assess. Trying to win away series against India and England in 2027 must be tempting but Starc knows all too well the toll fast bowling takes on the body.

“There’s a few scars and a few sore bits most days,” Starc said. “There’s got to be a part of you that knows how to bowl through things.

“There’s a fair bit of stubbornness there ... and maybe some stupidity at times. I know my body well enough that I know what I can and can’t play through. I’m never going to go into a game that I don’t think I can get through.

“I’m not one to reflect hugely on what’s been. I will when I have finished and I don’t have to worry about getting out of bed to bowl too much.”

Mitchell Starc acknowledges the crowd at the Adelaide Oval in 2024.

It is fitting that Starc’s 100th Test is a pink ball fixture and on that front, his excitement is difficult to conceal. On a warm Thursday afternoon in Kingston, Starc steamed in at Australia’s batsmen in their last proper hit-out before the Test. No one found it an easy assignment.

Starc has 74 wickets in pink balls matches - the next best of any player is Nathan Lyon with 43 - at an average of 18.14.

With Australia’s batsmen likely to take the game on and the West Indies’ batting unit showing no signs of improving, the visitors might find themselves at a golf course on day five.

“It’s quite funny my 100th is a pink ball game,” Starc said. “There might be a few things going on at night with the pink Dukes ball.

“Usman [Khawaja] is the only one who’s played with a pink Duke, and it was an English Duke. He said the county game went for a day and a half.

“It looks a pretty good wicket and it’s exciting to play a day-night Test away from home.”

From 99 Tests, Starc has won 58, lost 28 and drawn 13. They all mean a lot to a cricketer whose doggedness across 15 years in cricket’s most taxing format can never be questioned.

“I certainly remember the wins … they stick with me the most,” Starc said. “Whether it’s Alex Carey’s first team song [last week in Grenada] or songs after retaining an Ashes or winning the BGT [Border-Gavaskar Trophy] at home … they’re the special moments.

“It’s certainly been a lot of fun.”