IPL news: Mitchell Starc doesn’t fancy a 22-week bubble

Pakistan

Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc has revealed why he opted not to add his name to the IPL Mega Auction.

Starc claims that the decision was based on the desire to avoid another long stint in a bio-bubble.

The seamer has endured a difficult year and would rather spend the downtime with his family.

Everything we know about the IPL Mega Auction.

“I was a click of the button away from entering the auction but personally didn’t want to spend 22 more weeks in a bubble,” said Starc, who won the Allan Border Medal over the weekend.

“They’ll be a time where I’d love to go back to the IPL but in terms of wanting to play as much as I can for Australia that’s a decision I’ve done for a while,” he was quoted as saying by ‘espn.in’.

Starc has only featured in two IPL seasons, bagging 37 wickets in 27 matches. In 2018, he was handed a big contract by Kolkata Knight Riders, but he had to pull out due to injury.

The 32-year-old said on Saturday that not long before he was on the verge of quitting the sport.

Starc lifted the lid on the struggles he has faced in recent seasons.

“Obviously last year was particularly tough on and off the field,” Starc said referencing the loss of his father to cancer.

Looking back at the tumultuous phase, Starc added: “I probably didn’t play the cricket I wanted to and, at certain stages, I probably didn’t want to play cricket at all.”

Starc was lambasted after a return of just 11 wickets at 40.72 in the series against India.

His performance in the ICC T20 World Cup in the UAE too left a lot to be desired, with the pacer conceding 60 runs without taking a wicket in his four overs in the final.

However, Starc ended the Ashes as one of the team’s key performers in its 4-0 drubbing of England. He played in all the five Ashes Tests and finished with 19 wickets at an average of 25.37. He will shortly start preparations for the T20I series against Sri Lanka in mid-February before the tour of Pakistan in March.

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