Melbourne, 2 September 2025:
Left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc announced Tuesday he is retiring from T20 internationals to focus on Tests and one-day cricket, ending a career that saw him become Australia’s most prolific pace bowler in the shortest format.
Starc, 35, last played a T20I at the 2024 World Cup in the Caribbean. He departs with 79 wickets from 65 matches, second only to spinner Adam Zampa among Australia’s all-time wicket-takers in the format. His highlight came in 2021, when he helped Australia win its first men’s T20 World Cup.
“Test cricket is and has always been my highest priority,” Starc said. “Looking ahead to an away Indian Test tour, the Ashes and an ODI World Cup in 2027, I feel this is my best way forward to remain fresh, fit and at my best for those campaigns. It also gives the bowling group time to prepare for the T20 World Cup.”
Starc’s decision is the latest in a wave of white-ball retirements among senior Australian players. David Warner stepped away from all formats last year, while Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis have all retired from ODIs in 2025. Pat Cummins, the Test captain, has also been limited in one-day appearances.
Over his career, Starc often resisted lucrative domestic T20 contracts to prioritize international duty, turning down the Indian Premier League for much of his prime. In recent years, however, he has featured in the IPL, earning more than 6.5 million Australian dollars across the past two seasons.
Despite his T20 retirement, Starc remains one of Australia’s most durable Test bowlers. He claimed his 400th Test wicket earlier this year in his 100th match.
“Mitch should be incredibly proud of his T20 career,” chief selector George Bailey said. “He was an integral member of the 2021 World Cup-winning side and had a great skill for blowing games open with his wicket-taking ability. Pleasingly, he remains committed to Test and ODI cricket for as long as possible.”
Starc made his T20I debut in 2012 and went on to feature in five of Australia’s six men’s T20 World Cups, missing only the 2016 tournament through injury. His new-ball pace and swing were crucial in Australia’s title run in 2021.
While his exit leaves a hole in the attack for next year’s World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, selectors hope it extends his career in other formats — and keeps alive his bid to join Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and Glenn McGrath as a three-time ODI world champion in 2027.
