'More Important Than IPL Money,' Mitchell Starc On Playing Tests For Australia

Mitchell Starc has kept himself away from franchise cricket, including the IPL as he wants to be at his "best" playing for Australia. For Starc, playing Test cricket for Australia is the only goal, a path he hopes many youngsters will follow in the future. Several colleagues of Starc have appeared in various T20 leagues across the globe such as Indian Premier League (IPL), and Big Bash, but the 33-year-old has managed to stay away from that.

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Australia defeated India by 209 runs to lift their maiden World Test Championship mace on Sunday. Mitchell Starc has now lifted every ICC title with Australia, having already won the ODI and T20 World Cups and the Champions Trophy. The left-handed pacer last played franchise cricket back in 2015 for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL. He has cleared his mind that Test cricket will remain his priority for the foreseeable future.

Mitchell Starc opened up a few things about not playing in franchise cricket in an interview with the Guardian

"I enjoyed it (IPL), likewise I enjoyed my time in Yorkshire 10 years ago, but Australia will always sit at the top. I don't regret any of it, money will come and go but I'm very grateful for the opportunities I've had," Starc told 'The Guardian'.

"Over a hundred years of Test cricket and there have been less than 500 men who have played it for Australia, that in itself makes it very special to be a part of it. The traditionalist in me still hopes there is a generation of boys and girls who want to represent their country in Test cricket. But the easy money is in franchise cricket, it's the fast track to notoriety," he added.

"I'd certainly love to play in the IPL again, but my goal for a long time has been to be at my best for Australia, no matter the format," Starc added.

"There's nothing I love more in cricket than to sit back with my teammates at the end of a Test win and reflect on the success we've had that week. To be able to pull on the baggy green with a lot of my close mates, guys I've grown up in the game with," Starc said.