Former West Indies fast bowler and renowned commentator Ian Bishop has compared Pakistan’s left-arm pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi to Australia’s Mitchell Starc, calling him a “baby Starc” for his ability to consistently uproot stumps.

 

Bishop made the remark on Tuesday during the third and final day of the third Test between West Indies and Australia, when Starc ripped through the home side’s top and middle order, grabbing five wickets in just 15 balls.

 

Sharing his analysis in the commentary box, the veteran pacer advised batters to guard their stumps carefully when facing Starc and Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi.

 

“Mitchell Starc and Shaheen Shah Afridi are well known for this. Watch your stumps and protect them,” Bishop warned while on air.

 

He also spoke about some of the greatest pacers in cricket history, praising legends like Australia’s Glenn McGrath and West Indies’ Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh for intimidating batters with relentless line and length.

 

“What I love about international cricket is how bowlers like Glenn McGrath frightened batters around the world with their line and length. Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh were the same. Josh Hazlewood is similar now,” Bishop added.

 

Speaking about Shaheen’s bright future, Bishop said, “Then you have Shaheen Afridi, the young upcoming star pacer. I thought he is their very own baby Starc. Quite different but very similar in effect.”

 

Since making his international debut against the West Indies in 2018, Shaheen Afridi has represented Pakistan in 31 Tests, 64 ODIs, and 79 T20Is, claiming an impressive 345 wickets across formats, including seven five-wicket hauls in an innings.

 

The left-arm quick was named the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year in 2021 for his stellar performances across formats, most notably his fiery spells in the 2021 T20 World Cup that helped Pakistan reach the semi-finals.