Australia’s women’s opener Alyssa Healy has revealed that her husband and Australia’s men’s fast bowler Mitchell Starc did not want to play cricket last summer. She said Stark wanted to be with his father Paul and spend time with him before he died of cancer in February this year.
Earlier in the all-format series against India last year, Starc withdrew from the second and third T20Is to attend to a family ailment.
“Mitch didn’t want to play cricket. He wanted to sit next to his father and spend the last three months he could possibly spend with his father. Paul didn’t want that, he wanted Mitch to go there, play for Australia and wear his baggy green with pride,” Alyssa said in a video released by 7Cricket on Monday.
He further said that Starc played in Australia last summer because his father wanted him to do so. “It was difficult. Paul was such a big supporter of all his kids, but he loved the fact that Mitch played cricket for Australia. He was always their biggest supporter. The only reason Mitch played cricket last summer was this was that Paul wanted her. He wouldn’t let her sit at home and felt sorry for his father for doing something he had done. He wanted her to go there and play cricket.”
Starc was ineffective in the 2020/21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India, taking only 11 wickets in the four-match series. Alyssa said that those who criticized Stark’s performance did not know what was happening to her on the personal front.
“It is not easy to deal with what was going on behind the scenes and play Test cricket on the biggest ground. Mitch had faced a lot of criticism for the way he bowled last summer, but the people who were lying in it had no idea what was going on behind the scenes.
Starc was included in the men’s T20 World Cup squad and later in the Ashes, Alyssa is excited to see her husband back at the top of his game. “It was tough and I think it gets me really excited to have Mitch this summer. It’s obviously a huge summer for the boys, especially Mitch. It’s at your best to know the weight of all that.” To come back in, it’s not necessary, but it’s a little off his shoulders.”
“He can go out there, enjoy cricket and enjoy playing for Australia again. he deserves it. He gives a lot for me, and I leave a lot for him. But I think that leaves way for me. I am forever grateful and I want to see her succeed,” concluded Alyssa.
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