Shaheen Afridi Vs Josh Hazlewood: Who Is Better Across All Formats?

Shaheen Afridi and Josh Hazlewood [Source: @cricketcomau/X.com]

Shaheen Afridi and Josh Hazlewood are two of the most celebrated ace speedsters in international cricket, alongside names like Mitchell Starc and Jasprit Bumrah. Currently, Hazlewood is going through a rough patch, and Shaheen, despite being selected for the Asia Cup squad, needs to polish his weapon.

While one player plays for Pakistan and the other for Australia, a face-off between them would see a tough fight. Hence, comparing their strength and weaknesses, let's take a look at which player is better across all international formats.

Afridi Vs Hazlewood: Who Is Better In ODIs?

Key Takeaways

• Shaheen Afridi is the more attacking ODI bowler, striking every 25.7 balls and producing match-winning spells like 6/35, though his higher economy (5.66) shows he leaks runs while hunting wickets.
• Josh Hazlewood offers greater control with a superior economy of 4.76, excelling at building pressure and restricting scoring, but his higher strike rate makes him less of a strike weapon than Shaheen.

Verdict: While Josh Hazlewood is a more economical and reliable option for control, Shaheen Afridi stands out as the better ODI bowler overall.

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Afridi Vs Hazlewood: Who Is Better In Test?

Key Takeaways

• Hazlewood is statistically superior in almost every key metric. Bowling average, economy, strike rate, and total wickets. His consistency over a long career makes him one of the most reliable Test bowlers of his generation.
• Shaheen Afridi is still early in his Test career (only 53 innings compared to Hazlewood’s 143). His slightly higher average and economy suggest he can leak runs at times, but his best figures (10-for in a match) prove he has the x-factor to run through sides when conditions suit him.

Verdict: Josh Hazlewood dominates the red-ball format over Shaheen Afridi in every aspect.

Afridi Vs Hazlewood: Who Is Better In T20Is?

Key Takeaways

• Shaheen Afridi leads in total wickets (104 vs 73) largely because of more innings played, but when comparing efficiency, both bowlers are almost identical with strike rates around 17, showing they take wickets at a similar frequency. This makes Afridi consistent but not necessarily more effective on a per-match basis.
• Josh Hazlewood stands out for his stronger impact in limited-overs cricket — he maintains a better economy rate, delivers superior best figures. These factors indicate that while both are effective wicket-takers, Hazlewood has the edge in producing match-defining spells.

Verdict: Hazlewood has a better impact in T20I games than Shaheen and is more effective with tighter economy and strike rate. Hence, Hazlewood can be termed as the better T20I bowler between the two.

Conclusion

Looking at the numbers across formats, it’s clear that both Shaheen Afridi and Josh Hazlewood bring different strengths to the table. Shaheen's trike rate shows he’s just as capable of breaking partnerships as Hazlewood. He’s aggressive, hunts for wickets often, and can change the course of a game quickly. 

On the other hand, Josh Hazlewood has built a reputation for control and efficiency. His slightly better economy across formats, stronger best figures, and higher count of impactful spells suggest he can keep the pressure on while still delivering wickets. 

This balance of containment and wicket-taking ability makes him more reliable in different conditions and formats. So, while Shaheen may be the more explosive option, Hazlewood looks better suited to be the all-format bowler, offering consistency in Tests, stability in ODIs, and control in T20Is.

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