MEN’S TEST XI 2023
9. MITCHELL STARC
AUSTRALIA
9 Tests, 38 wickets at 29.63, economy 4.44, 1 five-wicket haul; 165 runs at 13.75, strike rate 47.55
53% of our panel voted for him
WORDS JO HARMAN
The Aussie southpaw nips in ahead of Chris Woakes (who was voted for by 43 per cent of our panel) and Mark Wood (30 per cent) after a year which neatly encapsulates the rare skills that he offers.
Though expensive (his economy rate of 4.44 was comfortably the worst across his career for a full calendar year), no bowler who claimed as many wickets took them at a more rapid rate, with Pat Cummins giving Starc the freedom to pitch the ball up and attack the stumps. He was the leading wicket-taker in the Ashes despite being overlooked for the series opener at Edgbaston after a wayward performance in the WTC final, taking six at Lord’s, seven at Headingley and eight at The Oval.