July 10, 2025: As Mitchell Starc prepares to play his 100th Test match, the Australian pacer reflects on a journey marked by perseverance, pain, and passion. The 35-year-old quick, who once doubted he’d play even a single Test, is now on the brink of joining cricketing royalty.
When Starc takes the field in Kingston, Jamaica, for the third Test against the West Indies starting July 13, he will become only the 16th Australian to reach the 100-Test milestone—and just the second pacer after Glenn McGrath to do so. Adding to the occasion, Starc needs just five wickets to become only the fourth Aussie to claim 400 Test wickets, alongside legends Shane Warne, McGrath, and Nathan Lyon.
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Speaking to cricket.com.au, Starc opened up about his career-long battle with injuries and the mindset that helped him overcome them. “I never wanted to leave my team a man down again. I’ve had to find ways through pain barriers, to keep playing and to make an impact.”
His support system—trainers, physios, and teammates—has played a critical role in helping him endure the rigours of fast bowling over more than a decade. It’s a remarkable journey for someone who started his cricketing life as a wicketkeeper before being guided into pace bowling at age 14.
“It’s humbling,” Starc said. “I didn’t think I would play even one Test. To be mentioned alongside names like McGrath, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris, and Brett Lee—these are guys I’ve learned so much from.”
Starc credits his evolution to continuous learning, including mastering new deliveries like the wobble seam to complement his trademark fast inswinger. “I still don’t have all the skills, but I’ve developed quite a few along the way,” he added. “And with mates like Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, it’s hard not to keep growing.”
Though he jokes the milestone is a reminder that he’s “getting older,” the left-arm quick remains a vital cog in Australia’s attack—and a legend in the making.