What Really Happened to Mitchell Starc’s Pace? A Real Talk from a Cricket Fan

 

Let be honest if you have followed cricket even a little over the last decade you have heard of Mitchell Starc The tall Aussie left armer who once bowled thunderbolts at 150 km/h and sent stumps flying like it was nothing. He wasn’t just quick — he was scary quick. But if you have watched him in the last few years something seems… off.

 

Where did the pace go? Why does he not bowl those screaming 150+ deliveries anymore? As a fan who’s watched his whole career, I’ve thought about this a lot. And no, it’s not just age — there’s more to the story.

 

Let’s talk real.

 

 

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The Starc That Blew Everyone Away

 

Cast your mind back to the 2015 World Cup Starc was on fire He was not just quick he was unplayable That famous yorker to Brendon McCullum in the final? That was pure raw fast bowling magic Batters had no clue whether the ball would swing in shape away or come in like a missile at their toes.

 

That version of Starc looked unbeatable But like most things in sport it did not last forever.

 

 

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Injuries starc The Beginning of the Slowdown

 

If there is one thing that is messed with Starc rhythm more than anything it is injuries And not just one we are talking stress fractures ankle issues side strains the whole package For fast bowlers the body takes a brutal beating When you are constantly pushing the 145 150 km/h mark somethings bound to give.

 

Starc had to take time off more than once. Every comeback meant a bit more caution, more protection, and less of that all-out attack. And to be fair, that’s normal. You can’t bowl express pace and stay injury-free forever.

 

 

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The Body Can Only Take So Much

 

Even elite athletes are human at the end of the day You try bowling 25 overs a day with full run-up, on a hot summer afternoon It is brutal Starc been doing that for over a decade.

 

As he grew older he probably realised he could not keep bowling like a 23 year old That kind of pace is not sustainable And so naturally his pace dropped a little He focused more on consistency movement and rhythm smart cricket basically.

 

 

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The Modern Game Changed Too

 

Let not forget the game itself has changed Batters are far more aggressive now In T20 and ODI they come hard from ball one. Bowlers have had to adapt And for Starc who plays all three formats that means changing gears constantly.

 

You can not just blast through teams with pace anymore You need plans variations accuracy. Starc had to add those to his toolkit And sometimes to bowl smarter you have to hold back a little on speed.

 

 

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Maybe It is Not Lost starc pace— Just Different

 

Here’s a thought: maybe Starc hasn’t actually lost his pace. Maybe he’s just using it differently.

 

There are still moments when he cranks it up — when he smells a wicket, or when the team needs a breakthrough. You’ll suddenly see a ball hit 147 km/h, and you’re like, “Oh yep, it’s still there.”

 

But he’s not wasting energy every over. He saves those thunderbolts for when they matter. That’s veteran stuff.

 

 

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Starv is Not 23 Anymore And That is Okay

 

Lets not pretend age does not play a role Starc is in his mid 30 now That is the stage where fast bowlers naturally start losing a bit of zip Even legends like Dale Steyn and Brett Lee had to go through it It is just part of the game.

 

But age also brings wisdom. Starc knows how to set up a batter how to read the pitch and how to deliver the right ball at the right time That is why he is still so effective even if the speed gun does not always light up.

 

 

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Test Cricket Takes a Toll

 

Another thing people forget — Starc still plays Test cricket. That format is a real grind. Long spells, flat pitches, and lots of hard work with the ball.

 

He is one of the few bowlers who have stuck with it while many others go the T20 route So of course he is going to pace himself You can not bowl 150 km/h every day and expect to last a five match series.

 

 

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The Bigger Picture of starc 

 

Honestly I do not think Starc “lost” anything. He is just evolved The Starc of 2015 was all pace aggression and raw fire The Starc of today is smarter more controlled and still incredibly dangerous.

 

Just last year he took a bunch of wickets in the Ashes and bowled some absolute beauties. Even without hitting top speed every ball he is still a match winner.

 

 

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