Cricket is a game of skill, strategy, and speed! Fast bowlers are the rockstars of the game, delivering balls at incredible velocities that leave batsmen trembling.
Let’s dive into the list of the top 10 fastest bowlers in cricket history.
10. Shane Bond – 156.4 kmph
This New Zealand fast bowler was very talented and known for his speed early in his career. However, Shane Bond had many injuries that shortened his career. Despite this, he took many wickets and was seen as a major threat by batsmen worldwide.
Bond’s fastest delivery was 156.4 km/h during the 2003 World Cup.
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9. Mohammad Sami – 156.4 kmph
Mohammad Sami is the second fastest bowler in Pakistan’s cricket history. He became famous early in his career but couldn’t stay in international cricket for long because of injuries and poor performance. His fastest ball was 156.4 km/h, bowled against Zimbabwe in April 2003.
8. Mitchell Johnson – 156.8 kmph
Mitchell Johnson is one of the fastest Australian bowlers. He especially likes playing against England, and his records show he performs well against most teams. His fastest ball, 156.8 km/h, was bowled against England in December 2013 at the MCG.
7. Fidel Edwards – 157.7 kmph
Fidel Edwards is the second fastest bowler from the West Indies. He bowled his fastest ball at 157.7 km/h against South Africa in 2003. He was the fastest bowler at the time until an Australian bowler beat his record in 2015.
6. Andy Roberts – 159.5 kmph
This ex-West Indian fast bowler was in the famous group of fast bowlers for West Indies in the 1970s. Roberts was the quickest and one of the scariest bowlers of his time. His fastest ball was 159.5 kph, thrown against Australia in Perth in 1975.
5. Mitchell Starc – 160.4 kmph
Mitchell Starc joins this list thanks to a powerful delivery against New Zealand during the second Test at the WACA. Ross Taylor faced a lightning-fast yorker from Starc, one of the second-fastest deliveries ever in Test cricket.
Starc is famous for his skill in bowling fast, swinging yorkers. He proves he’s among the fastest bowlers in today’s game. However, he’s not even the quickest Australian bowler, nor did he bowl the fastest ball at the WACA. That distinction belongs to another bowler ranked higher on this list.
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4. Jeff Thomson – 160.6 kmph
Legendary Australian fast bowler Jeff Thomson was renowned for his exceptional speed, earning him the title of the fastest bowler of his era. In a thrilling match against the West Indies in Perth in 1975, Thomson achieved a remarkable feat, clocking an incredible 160.6 kmph. This impressive record solidified his position as one of the most formidable fast bowlers in cricket history.
3. Shaun Tait -161.1 kmph
Shaun Tait started playing international cricket with high hopes. He began in 2007 and quickly gained attention because of his incredible speed. However, he retired from international cricket in 2011 at just 28 years old due to frequent injuries.
Tait bowled his fastest ball at 161.1 kmph against England.
2. Brett Lee – 161.1 kmp
This Australian fast bowler is widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time. He had amazing speed and took wickets consistently. Unlike many other fast bowlers, his career lasted a long time.
Lee’s fastest recorded delivery was 161.8 kmph against West Indies in Brisbane in 2003. However, later it was corrected that his official fastest delivery was 161.1 kmph, achieved against New Zealand in 2005.
1. Shoaib Akhtar – 161.3 kmph
Shoaib Akhtar, aptly nicknamed the ‘Rawalpindi Express’, is widely regarded as the fastest bowler in cricket history. In a stunning display of pace, he delivered a record-breaking ball clocked at 161.3 kmph (100.2 mph) against England in the 2003 World Cup. Akhtar’s average bowling speed was consistently impressive, ranging between 145-150 kmph (90-93 mph), making him a formidable force on the pitch.
| Rank | Bowler | Fastest Delivery (kmph) | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shoaib Akhtar | 161.3 | Newlands, South Africa | 2003 |
| 2 | Brett Lee | 161.1 | Napier, New Zealand | 2005 |
| 3 | Shaun Tait | 161.1 | Lord’s, England | 2010 |
| 4 | Jeff Thomson | 160.6 | Perth, Australia | 1975 |
| 5 | Mitchell Starc | 160.4 | WACA, Australia | 2015 |
| 6 | Andy Roberts | 159.5 | Perth, Australia | 1975 |
| 7 | Fidel Edwards | 157.7 | Wanderers, South Africa | 2003 |
| 8 | Mitchell Johnson | 156.8 | MCG, Australia | 2013 |
| 9 | Mohammad Sami | 156.4 | Sharjah, UAE | 2003 |
| 10 | Shane Bond | 156.4 | Centurion, South Africa | 2003 |
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