Won't be following in Anderson's footsteps: Starc

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc is on the verge of reaching two significant milestones as he prepares for a crucial year in Test cricket.

The left-arm quick, who will turn 35 in January, is gearing up for a five-Test series against India this summer, with the possibility of surpassing 400 wickets and reaching 100 Test matches within the next 12 months.

Despite his advancing age, Starc has not set a definitive end date for his career, although he acknowledges that playing all three formats is becoming increasingly challenging. Unlike England's Jimmy Anderson, who recently retired at the age of 42, Starc does not see himself continuing in limited-overs cricket to the very end, but he remains committed to Test cricket.

"I've been very lucky to play three formats for a very long time. How long that will continue, I'm not sure. The scheduling of three formats is getting harder and harder and finding blocks of time to spend time on my body is going to take away from others," Starc said

"Tests are still definitely the pinnacle for me and I think my body will play a part in that decision whenever it gets to it. I'm not someone like Jimmy who played until he was 40-odd and had incredible skills to swing it both ways. I've never been that bowler and there's plenty of better bowlers around the country to fill that job.

I'm really looking forward to this summer and I haven't put any expiry date on anything just yet," he further added.

Furthermore, Starc who has played in numerous Ashes series, believes the rivalry between Australia and India has now reached the same level as the Ashes, traditionally considered the pinnacle of cricketing contests.

"It's thrown it right on par with an Ashes series being [expanded to] five Tests. The Border-Gavaskar doesn't have that length of history [as the Ashes] but I think the level of competitiveness between both trophies is on par. We're currently one and two in the Test table so there will be a bit of spice to it," he concluded.

Ponting hails Bumrah

Australia legend Ricky Ponting has heaped praise on Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah and acknowledged his remarkable journey and extraordinary comeback.

Despite concerns about whether Bumrah could reclaim his status as a leading bowler, his recent performances have silenced critics and demonstrated his exceptional skill.

"There might have been some fears a couple of years ago when the injuries came in and 'would he come back the same?', but I think he's come back better. I've said it for a long time; he's probably been the best multi-format bowler there's been in world cricket for the last five or six years."

He further praised Bumrah's consistency and skill: "If I watch what he did in the T20 World Cup—the pace is still there; there's nothing that's changed with the accuracy or what he can deliver. The skillset is all the same. He's getting better year on year. So, he would rank right up there. So, when you've got that skillset and the consistency that he has, then you're going to be a great player."