Mitchell Starc has officially stepped away from Twenty20 internationals, and the timing feels spot on.

After lifting the T20 World Cup trophy in 2021 and playing a key role in Australia’s most recent ODI World Cup win in 2023, Starc is narrowing his focus — and rightly so.

He’s 35, has nothing left to prove in the shortest format, and with the Ashes on the horizon, every over he saves in T20 cricket is an over that could win a Test match.

The T20 matches tend to be used for a rest period for players such as Starc who play all three formats so while it may be a surprise to some, it makes sense.

Starc’s T20I record is solid — 74 wickets in 63 matches at an average just over 23 — but it is in one-day internationals and Tests where he’s really stamped his legacy. His impact has always been greater when there’s time to build rhythm and when the stakes are higher. And when he’s fresh, he’s at his best.

But while one left-arm quick is streamlining his career, attention now turns to another crucial figure — Pat Cummins — and the growing concern around his back injury.

National selector George Bailey confirmed this week that Cummins is battling a mild back stress issue and might miss warm-up games leading into the home Ashes summer.

Bailey even said they’d be open to picking Cummins for the first Test without any match preparation and Cummins himself said he would be able to give it his best in the first Test, if fit, even without any Sheffield Shield cricket under his belt.

That might sound like confidence, but it also raises eyebrows. For someone with a history of back issues, missing red-ball lead-up time isn’t ideal — especially heading into the most mentally demanding series in world cricket.

Cummins has carried a massive load in all three formats. He’s captained, bowled long spells, fronted the media, and stayed calm through chaos.

Fast bowlers know the difference between a niggle and a red flag. But when back problems start creeping in — especially at 32 — you can’t just rely on recovery anymore. These things linger. And mentally, they wear on you.

Back in his early days, Cummins’ action was part of the issue — it loaded up too much force through a still-developing frame with counter rotation of the spine being a problem.

Now, it may be more about wear and tear, stop-start scheduling, or just age catching up.

Either way, it’s worth asking whether Australia needs to rotate Cummins during the Ashes. Five Tests in seven weeks is a brutal run, even for a fully fit quick.

Though personally, I don’t like rotation or resting policies during a Test series for many reasons. If you fit to play, play. If you’re not, don’t play.

There’s solid cover in Scott Boland. He’s a proven performer in home conditions and already has a history of dismantling England.

Boland’s style — relentless, accurate, unbothered — fits the series perfectly. He could easily slot in if Cummins needs to miss a Test, and you wouldn’t lose much in terms of control or intensity.

For now, there’s no panic. Starc’s T20 retirement is a smart move. Cummins still has time to build back up. This is all part of the build-up.

We will hear it from both sides leading into the first Test.

As a player, you try to ignore the news that comes out in the media. You can’t control it and all you can do is be prepared. Train, play, recover and just be ready.

But if Cummins isn’t 100 per cent for the Ashes, it may change things - tactically, physically, and psychologically. Not just for Australia, but for England too.