Kingstown, July 15, 2025 – In the ongoing third Test between West Indies and Australia, former West Indies fast bowler and respected commentator Ian Bishop drew a striking comparison between Pakistan’s premier left‑arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi and Australia’s inspirational Mitchell Starc.
Describing Shaheen’s recent burst of pace and movement, Bishop remarked during commentary, “I thought he was Baby Starc at his fittest” — a nod to Starc’s devastating spell of five wickets in just 15 balls, which dismantled West Indies’ top and middle order earlier in the session Wikipedia+9Geo Super+9X (formerly Twitter)+9.
Bishop stressed the threat both bowlers pose to batsmen’s stumps, adding:
“It is well known with Mitchell Starc and Shaheen Shah Afridi at his best, watch and guard your stumps.”
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He also drew parallels with legendary fast bowlers like Glenn McGrath, Curtly Ambrose, and Courtney Walsh — all of whom, he noted, terrorized batsmen with consistent, probing bowling Geo Super.
Shaheen’s Rise: From Debut to Stardom
International Debut: April 2018 (T20I vs West Indies) and September 2018 (ODI vs Afghanistan) YouTube+15Wikipedia+15TikTok+15
Career Stats (as of July 2025): 31 Tests, 60 ODIs, and 75 T20Is, accumulating 116, 124, and 100 wickets respectively
Major Honours: ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year (2021) and winner of the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy Wikipedia+1Geo Super+1
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Mitchell Starc: The Benchmark
The fastest bowler in ODI history to reach 150 & 200 wickets
Possesses the fastest recorded Test delivery at 160.4 km/h
A key contributor to Australia’s ICC victories in T20 World Cup (2021) and World Test Championship
???? Why This Matters
This comparison elevates Shaheen Shah Afridi into elite company. Bishop’s “Baby Starc” label isn’t just praise—it reflects Afridi’s genuine ability to swing the ball at pace with lethal accuracy, reminiscent of Mitchell Starc in his prime.
As this Test series continues, all eyes will be on whether Shaheen can sustain this form and fully realize the potential matched only by legends like Starc, McGrath, Ambrose, and Walsh.