Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc shared that his coaches’ firm words toughened him up and helped him overcome injuries. He specifically credited Tim Nielsen for introducing him to the concept of ‘early doors.’
As a key member of the fast-bowling trio, Starc, now 34, has emerged as a prominent figure in his era. With over 500 international wickets, he played a crucial role in Australia’s victories in two ODI World Cups and the World Test Championship.
Addressing reporters on Wednesday, Starc emphasized the importance of recognizing when to communicate any minor discomfort to the medical staff and when to persevere. He stated, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo:
“I was still learning what all those pains were and obviously the reports get around from physios to coaches and I sort of got told to harden the f*** up a little bit.”
“Timmy Nielsen probably made me aware that early doors. Obviously, there’s plenty of times you need to be honest with the medical staff but other times you got to know when to push through things.”
The New South Wales cricketer is on the verge of surpassing Dennis Lillee as Australia’s highest Test wicket-taker. Currently at 354 wickets, Starc requires just two more to exceed Lillee’s record.
“Reaching 100 Test matches as a fast bowler is a significant accomplishment”- Mitchell Starc
As New Zealand captain and seamer Tim Southee approaches his 100th Test in Christchurch, the 34-year-old expressed that achieving this milestone would be enormous. The veteran of 88 Tests further stated:
“To play 100 Test matches as a fast bowler is a huge achievement for [Southee]. If I can get that far, that’d be nice as a bowler and again that’s probably showing a bit of age and experience but a bit of longevity as well and then the work to become resilient and to push through a few things. So if I can get that far it’d be a nice touch but at this stage, it’s one week at a time.”
Joining Southee, Kane Williamson will also participate in his 100th Test as the Blackcaps aim to even the series.
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