Australia’s fast bowling star Mitchell Starc has called time on his T20 international career. The 35-year-old left-arm speedster made this big decision to focus on longer formats.
Starc wants to stay fresh for the upcoming Test tours and the 2027 ODI World Cup. This move marks the end of a brilliant T20I journey that began back in 2012.
Read about what he had to say with this end and his reasons as to why he took this decision.
Mitchell Starc Says Goodbye To T20 International Cricket
Mitchell Starc announced his retirement from T20Is, stating his need to remain fresh and prepared for the 2027 World Cup. This announcement has come just before Australia is set to select its team to face New Zealand.
This is also a notable announcement after Glen Maxwell’s ODI retirement.
Since his T20 career started in 2012, Mitchell has played 65 matches. In these, he took a total of 79 wickets. In a match against West Indies in 2022, he took 4 wickets for 20 runs. Such skill proves why he was so important to winning the T20 World Cup in 2021.
As a tall player, Starc has made his reputation on sharp swings and ‘pinpoint rorkers’, which leave batsmen often confused.
At his best, Starc swings new balls and delivers his yorkers whenever his team needs them. This type of performance made him the key player in Australia’s T20 World Cup Win in 2021
When he announced his retirement, Starc said, “Test cricket is and has always been my highest priority.” The decision was not easy for the veteran bowler. “I have loved every minute of every T20 game I have played for Australia, particularly the 2021 World Cup”.
Starc’s retirement comes at a time when Australia faces a busy schedule. From mid-2026, Australia faces a hectic run in Test cricket, including a home series against Bangladesh, a tour of South Africa, and a four-match series against New Zealand.
Australia also has a five-test tour of India in early 2027. Along with the 150th anniversary Test against England at the MCG and the Ashes series in late 2027. All this makes them pretty busy pretty soon.
In regard to the Ashes, first, Australia has to play the more recent ones. And this is how the Ashes 2025-2026 are set up, with schedules and fixtures.
Mitchell Starc T20 Career Stats
Starc leaves behind impressive numbers in T20 international cricket. He was Australia’s second-highest wicket-taker in the format.
Bowling Stats
| Matches | 65 |
| Innings | 65 |
| Wickets | 79 |
| Average | 23.81 |
| Economy | 7.74 |
| Strike Rate | 18.46 |
| Best Bowling Figure | 4/20 vs West Indies (2022) |
Batting Stats
| Matches Played | 65 |
| Innings | 21 |
| Runs Scored | 98 |
| Average | 9.8 |
| Highest Score | 14 |
| Not Outs | 12 |
Chair of selectors George Bailey said, “I’m not sure we’re going to find someone swinging the new ball at 145kph an hour“. This shows how hard it will be to replace Starc’s unique skills. His pace and swing made him special in T20 cricket.
The fast bowler also contributed with the bat when needed. He could hit big sixes in the lower order. Starc’s all-round ability added depth to the side, both with the ball in hand and lower down the order.
He has been Australia’s constant choice for T20 setups for more than 12 years now. Before the announcement, he also seemed to be missing from the Australia vs West Indies T20I Series in 2025.
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Conclusion: Mitchell Starc Announced His Retirement From T20 To Focus On Longer Formats
Mitchell Starc definitely left a mark on Australian T20 cricket, which is why his leaving is turning out to be the closure of a significant chapter in Australian cricket.
With 79 wickets and several more spells, he will definitely be remembered as one of the toughest bowlers in short-term cricket. The fans do not need to worry as Starc is going to continue playing in the Tests and ODIs. This is really not the end of the rest of his career.
Starc’s influence in the T20s will remain long after he leaves. After this, the attention is being shifted to the next ODI World Cup in October – November 2027, which is being hosted by Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
