Australian women’s cricketer Alyssa Healy on Monday (October 4) revealed why her husband and Australia men’s pacer Mitchell Starc didn’t want to play cricket last summer.

Healy said Starc wanted to spend time with his father Paul, who passed away due to cancer in February this year.

During the 2020-21 home series against India, Starc had pulled out of second and third T20Is owing to family illness.

“Mitch didn’t want to be there playing cricket. He wanted to be sitting next to his dad and spending the last three months that he could possibly have with his dad. Paul didn’t want that, he wanted Mitch to go out there, play for Australia and wear his baggy green with pride," said Alyssa in a video released by 7Cricket.

She further disclosed that Starc played last summer in Australia because it was his father’s wish.

“It was tough. Paul was such a big supporter of all his kids, but he loved the fact that Mitch played cricket for Australia. He was always his biggest supporter. The only reason that Mitch played the cricket he did last summer is because Paul wanted him to. He wouldn’t let him sit at home and feel sorry for his dad that he was going through something as horrible as what he did. He wanted him to go out there and play cricket."

Starc’s performance wasn’t up to the mark in the Test series against India as he picked up only 11 wickets in four matches.

Alyssa pointed out that people who were critical of Starc’s showing didn’t know what was happening with him on personal front.

“To have to deal with what was going on behind the scenes and play Test cricket on the biggest arena is not easy. Mitch copped a lot of flak for bowling the way he did last summer but those people who were laying into him had no concept of what was going on behind the scenes."

Starc is part of Australia’s T20 World Cup 2021 squad followed by the Ashes 2021-22 and Alyssa is excited to see her husband back on top of his game.

“It was tough and I guess it makes me really excited this summer for Mitch. It’s obviously a huge summer for the boys, Mitch in particular. To get back to his best knowing the weight of all that, it’s not necessarily gone, but it’s taken a bit off his shoulders."

“He can go out there, enjoy cricket and enjoy playing for Australia again. He deserves it. He gives up a lot for me, and I give up a lot for him. But I think he gives up way more for me. I’m eternally grateful and I just want to see him succeed," she concluded.

(With IANS inputs)