Starc charges towards 300 Test wickets

The left-armer is only four scalps away from becoming the seventh Australian to reach the milestone.

Starc is every chance achieve the feat during the first Test against South Africa at the Gabba, starting on Saturday.

Part of the 32-year-old's lasting success has been to pay less attention to media scrutiny.

The late Shane Warne was Starc's harshest critic, but the legendary legspinner declared his often scathing analysis wasn't personal.

Warne, who is Australia's all-time leading Test wicket-taker, said just before his death in March that he would happily "have a beer" with Starc to discuss the criticism.

"The disappointing part or the sad part is that we never got to have that conversation," Starc said.

"It's part of cricket, you're going to have your critics and everyone is entitled to have an opinion.

"I did with everything (take things personally) - I was someone who listened to and read everything.

"That year we had multiple broadcasters start (2018-19), everyone coming in with radio, that's when it really doubled down on the noise and it really got away from (me).

"That's where I learnt best to let things go and only worry about the groups that mattered most to me.

"That was a point where it changed a fair bit for, where I chose not to read things and it's continued on where it doesn't matter."

Former NSW teammate Usman Khawaja is proud of how Starc has transformed from an "emotional" tearaway to a senior voice of the Australian team.

"He always had the skills but it was more about what was going up there (in his head) for him, which is a lot of the case for all international players and he's found a way through it," the left-handed opener said on Thursday.

"Had a lot of ups and downs which I think just makes you stronger as a cricketer and as a person in general.

"He doesn't listen to much of the white noise.

"He's actually got a lot more skills now than before."

Starc has prioritised international cricket, turning down the riches on offers in the Indian Premier League.

A combination of injury and workload has led to Starc skipping the lucrative T20 tournament since 2015 when he played for Royal Challengers Bangalore, missing out on millions of dollars.

While conceding missing the IPL for so many years had "not been great for the back pocket", Starc said it had helped him stay fresh to perform for Australia.

"If I look at the last couple of years of Test cricket, that decision has certainly helped it," he said on Thursday.

"Just the holistic approach to life and being able to see that when both of us (him and wife, Alyssa) have a little bit of time away from cricket, mentally and physically it's been hugely beneficial and probably paid for itself.

"If I look at the last two years, they've probably been my most consistent couple of years in Test cricket."

AUSTRALIA'S LEADING TEST WICKET-TAKERS (* denotes still playing)

1. Shane Warne 708

2. Glenn McGrath 563

3. Nathan Lyon 450*

4. Dennis Lillee 355

5. Mitchell Johnson 303

6. Brett Lee 310

7. Mitchell Starc 296*

Australian Associated Press