Mark Taylor, a former Australian cricket captain, is concerned about the future of Test cricket after Mitchell Starc signed a million-dollar deal with the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Despite this, Taylor encourages young players to prioritize their national team, just like Starc did in his career.
Mark Taylor Reacts To Starc’s Historic IPL Deal
The response from Mark Taylor came a day after the Kolkata Knight Riders secured Mitchell Starc for ₹24.75 crore, making him the most expensive player in IPL history. Starc had previously participated in the IPL in 2015 with the Royal Challengers Bangalore but later chose to focus on his fitness and national team commitments. Despite being purchased by KKR in 2018, he didn’t play a match, and he withdrew from the 2022 season, citing bubble fatigue.
Speaking to 9News, Taylor said:
“I think Australia have got it right but that pressure is going to be even greater in years to come – there’s already talks about a second IPL, there’s Dubai leagues, there’s American leagues popping up everywhere. There’s an ongoing threat to Test cricket, getting that balance right and maintaining and prioritizing Test cricket is going to get tougher.”
He added: “I hope the players follow in that Mitchell Starc mold. Work on getting your baggy green, work on becoming a great Test cricketer, knowing full well the IPL will always be there.”
Mitchell Starc Is Over The Moon
Mitchell Starc has taken 170 wickets in 121 T20 matches with an economy rate of 7.45. Apart from Starc, Australia’s captain, Pat Cummins, was acquired by the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for ₹20.5 crore, becoming the second-highest-paid player in the Indian Premier League’s history.
Starc expressed his excitement about becoming the most expensive player in IPL history following an intense bidding war involving four teams at the IPL 2024 auction. The Australian fast bowler mentioned that he is thrilled about the opportunity and is determined to prove his worth and justify the high price tag in the upcoming season. He added:
“It was a shock, of course. Nothing I could have dreamt of. But no doubt, there will be some pressure that comes with the territory. But having the extra experience I have from my last IPL, hopefully, helps.”
