The advice that shaped Mitchell Starc: 'If any muppet tells you to slow down, he does not understand cricket'
Australia's Mitchell Starc, a left-arm quick, has been a terror on the cricket field, amassing an impressive 433 wickets and counting. But his journey to becoming one of the world's best bowlers started with a 14-year-old boy keeping wickets at Homebush Boys High School. It was there that his childhood coach, Neil D'Costa, discovered his raw talent and potential.
D'Costa, who had previously coached the likes of Michael Clarke and Phillip Hughes, saw something special in Starc. He recalled, 'He played in his age group for a representative team, and Alyssa Healy was in it too. What stood out was his height and his movement - he moved like a panther.'
D'Costa's belief in Starc's potential was soon confirmed. He arranged for Starc to join the West Club Academy, despite the teenager's initial resistance to the idea of giving up his wicketkeeping role. D'Costa's blunt advice to Starc was, 'If any muppet tells you to slow down and get line and length, make a mental note. He does not understand the game. It’s called fast bowling.'
This advice stuck with Starc, and he soon became a force to be reckoned with on the cricket field. He terrorized batters with his pace and swing, earning him a spot in the NSW Under-17s team. As Starc's career progressed, he continued to dominate, becoming the Player of the Series in the 2025/26 Ashes Series, where Australia won 4-1.
Today, Starc is a legend in the cricket world, and his success can be attributed to his early coaching and the advice he received from D'Costa. Despite his success, Starc remains grounded, and his humility and warmth have made him a fan favorite. As D'Costa said, 'Mitch coached Mitch,' and his belief in his own abilities has led to a remarkable cricket career.
