It has been two months since Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc has touched a ball or a bat, but it has given him chance to spend some much needed time with wife and cricketer Alyssa Healy, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Starc returns to preseason practice on Wednesday in Sydney, still unclear as to when the Australian team will tour again.

“It’s hard enough juggling one cricket schedule with three formats let alone when my wife plays cricket on a completely different schedule as well. Something I take into consideration heavily is being able to spend time together. For us to have that time together, which we have done the last eight weeks, I wouldn’t give that back for a contract at all,” Starc said.

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Speaking about spending lazy weeks at home Starc said,” It’s been really nice to have eight or nine weeks at home doing the little things — a bit of housework, cooking together, having that normality in your life that doesn’t come with international cricket schedules.”

The left-arm seamer is well aware of the new regulations being put forth by the ICC Cricket Committee which includes a ban on using saliva for shining the ball.

“There needs to be something in place to keep that ball swinging. There needs to be an even contest between bat and ball, otherwise, people will stop watching. Kids aren’t going to want to be bowlers — there are some pretty flat wickets, and if that ball is going straight it’s a pretty boring contest,” Starc said about new changes.

(AP inputs)