Starc excited for maiden Boxing Day Test

Four years ago this week, Mitchell Starc received cricket’s equivalent of a lump of coal for Christmas. He was rested for the Boxing Day Test. Not dropped. Rested. Starc was 22 at the time, and was entering what team management called a “danger period” due to his heavy workload. “We don’t want a high-risk strategy,” chairman of selectors John Inverarity said at the time. Australia’s then coach, Mickey Arthur, said Starc “took it very well”.

Perhaps Starc was just a good actor, because that decision still irks him. Four years on, Starc is the leader of Australia’s attack, the No.6-ranked Test bowler in the world, and the owner of 136 Test wickets. And he is still waiting for his first Boxing Day Test. He enters this year’s Melbourne Test having sent down 56 overs in Australia’s win over Pakistan at the Gabba – his highest workload in any first-class game – but don’t expect Starc to rest this time.

“It’s happened before. He’s in the other camp now, I think,” Starc said in Melbourne on Friday, referring to Arthur, now the coach of Pakistan.

It is perhaps surprising that Starc has not played a Boxing Day Test, for it feels that he has been a fixture in the side for many years. But in 2012 he was rested; in 2013 he missed the whole home Ashes due to a stress fracture of the back; in 2014 he was dropped from the XI that beat India in Brisbane to accommodate Ryan Harris, who was returning from injury; and in 2015, Starc missed the second half of the summer due to an ankle injury.

“There’s a few of us in the rooms that are yet to play one,” Starc said. “Personally, as a kid growing up watching the Boxing Day Test, it’s always been a dream of mine to play in front of a full house at the MCG on Boxing Day. If I get the chance this week I’ll tick that one off and it’ll be a fantastic experience …

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