From Shoaib Akhtar to Shane Bond: Ranking the Top 10 Fastest Bowlers in Cricket

The fastest ball in cricket history is a feat that has been achieved by only a handful of bowlers. It is an astonishing accomplishment to be able to deliver the ball at such incredible speed, and those responsible for doing so are the true speedsters of cricket. Our focus today will be on the top 10 fastest bowlers in cricket history, how it was bowled, and who were the speedsters responsible for it.

Fastest Ball in Cricket history list

Videos of of top 10 fast bowlers with their fastest bowl

Shoaib Akhtar

The fastest ball in cricket history was bowled by Pakistani speedster Shoaib Akhtar, who clocked an astonishing 161.3 km/h (100.23 mph) in a match against England in 2003.

This feat earned him the title of “The Rawalpindi Express,” a nickname that would stick with him throughout his career. Akhtar’s speed and accuracy have made him one of the most feared bowlers in cricket history, and his record for the fastest ball remains unbeaten.

Shaun Tait

Shaun Tait, the former Australian fast bowler, had one of the fastest deliveries in the history of cricket. His fastest recorded delivery in international cricket was 161.1 km/h (100.14 mph), which he bowled during an ODI match against England in 2010.

The delivery was bowled at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, England, during the second match of the ODI series between Australia and England. Tait was bowling to England batsman Jonathan Trott, who was facing his third delivery. Tait bowled a length ball, which clocked at 161.1 km/h (100.14 mph) on the speed gun, making it one of the fastest balls ever recorded in cricket history.

Shaun Tait’s delivery was not only fast, but it also had excellent accuracy and movement off the pitch, making it a deadly weapon in his arsenal. His unique bowling action and ability to generate raw pace made him one of the most feared fast bowlers of his time.

Brett Lee

Brett Lee, the former Australian fast bowler, had one of the fastest deliveries in the history of cricket. His fastest recorded delivery in international cricket was 161.1 km/h (100.1 mph), which he bowled during a Test match against New Zealand in 2005.

Lee was bowling to New Zealand batsman Craig Cumming, who was facing his second delivery. Lee bowled a full and straight delivery, which clocked at 161.1 km/h (100.1 mph) on the speed gun, making it one of the fastest balls ever recorded in cricket history.

The delivery was so fast that Cumming could not react to it in time, and the ball crashed into his helmet, knocking him to the ground. The impact of the delivery was so severe that Cumming had to be carried off the field on a stretcher.

Brett Lee was not just about raw pace; he also had excellent accuracy and control over his bowling. He was able to generate immense pace with his smooth bowling action, making him a difficult bowler to face.

J Thomson

Jeff Thomson, the former Australian fast bowler, was one of the fastest and most feared bowlers of his time. His fastest recorded delivery in international cricket was 160.4 km/h (99.6 mph), which he bowled against West Indies during a Test match in Perth, Australia, in 1975.

Thomson was bowling to West Indies batsman Roy Fredericks, who was facing his second delivery. Thomson bowled a blistering delivery that was clocked at 160.4 km/h (99.6 mph) on the speed gun, making it one of the fastest deliveries ever recorded in cricket history.

The ball was short and rising, and it flew past Fredericks, who could not react in time and hit him on the shoulder, knocking his helmet off in the process. The delivery was so fast that it left everyone in the stadium stunned and amazed by Thomson’s pace and skill.

M Starc

Mitchell Starc, the current Australian left-arm fast bowler, has been one of the fastest bowlers in the world in recent years. His fastest recorded delivery in international cricket is 160.4 km/h (99.7 mph), which he bowled during a Test match against New Zealand in 2015.

Starc was bowling to New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor, who was facing his third delivery. Starc bowled a short delivery, which clocked at 160.4 km/h (99.7 mph) on the speed gun, making it one of the fastest balls ever recorded in cricket history.

The ball was rising quickly, and Taylor could not react in time, and the ball went over his head to the wicketkeeper. The delivery left everyone in the stadium stunned, as Starc had just bowled one of the fastest deliveries ever recorded in cricket history.

Apart from his raw pace, Starc is also known for his swing and seam movement off the pitch. He has the ability to generate both in-swing and out-swing with the new ball, making him a dangerous bowler in any condition.

A Roberts

Andy Roberts, a former West Indian fast bowler, holds the place in the top 10 fastest ball in cricket history, clocked at 159.5 km/h (99.1 mph). Roberts is considered to be one of the greatest bowlers of all time and is renowned for his ability to make the ball move off the pitch.

The fastest delivery bowled by Roberts happened during a match against Australia in 1975. It was an incredible sight to see, as the Australian batsman was only able to stand and watch as the ball whistled past him at a speed of 159.5 km/h (99.1 mph).

F Edwards

Fidel Edwards, the former West Indian fast bowler, was known for his express pace and ability to generate bounce from a good length. His fastest recorded delivery in international cricket was 157.7 km/h (97.9 mph), which he bowled during a Test match against South Africa in 2003.

Edwards was bowling to South African batsman Jacques Kallis, who was facing his fourth delivery. Edwards bowled a short delivery, which clocked at 157.7 km/h (97.9 mph) on the speed gun, making it one of the fastest balls ever recorded in cricket history at that time.

M Johnson

Mitchell Johnson, the former Australian left-arm fast bowler, was known for his ability to generate extreme pace and swing. His fastest recorded delivery in international cricket was 156.8 km/h (97.4 mph), which he bowled during an Ashes Test match against England in 2013.

Johnson was bowling to England batsman Jonathan Trott. Johnson bowled a full delivery, which clocked at 156.8 km/h (97.4 mph) on the speed gun, making it one of the fastest balls ever recorded in cricket history.

M Sami

Mohammed Sami, the Pakistani fast bowler, is known for his ability to generate pace and swing. During a match against Zimbabwe in 2003, he bowled a delivery that was recorded at 156.2 km/h (97.1 mph) on the speed gun. He once bowled at 162 km/h against India but ICC does not recognized it.

Apart from his pace, Sami is also known for his accuracy and his ability to swing the ball both ways. Throughout the history of Pakistan cricket, he has been a regular member of the team and has played a crucial role in their success over the years.

In conclusion, Mohammed Sami’s 156.2 km/h delivery was an incredible display of pace and swing, which left many batsmen struggling to cope with his sheer speed. His contributions to Pakistan cricket are significant, and he remains one of the best fast bowlers in the world.

Shane Bond

One of the fastest balls in cricket history was bowled by New Zealand’s Shane Bond in 2003 against India. At the time, he was the quickest bowler in world cricket and had the highest speed recorded at 156.4 km/h.

During that time, Bond was compared to a young Shoaib Akhtar. And his ability to swing the ball and generate extreme pace was also noted.

Bond later went on to become an integral part of the New Zealand cricket team. And was named one of Wisden’s cricketers of the year in 2006. His performance in Tests, ODIs, and T20s is a testament to his tremendous talent and skill.

Fastest Ball in Cricket history India

Fastest ball in Cricket history 173.9 km/hr Morne Morkel

Morne Morkel is a former South African fast bowler, who was known for his intimidating pace and ability to generate extreme speed with the ball. However, he has bowled at a speed of 173 km/h (107.5 mph) in professional cricket when Hawk-Eye was not looking good.

It’s important to note that the fastest recorded delivery in professional cricket history is 161.3 km/h (100.23 mph). Which was bowled by Shoaib Akhtar of Pakistan against England in a 2003 World Cup match. So, a delivery of 173 km/h is significantly faster than the current world record and would have been an extraordinary feat.

In conclusion, while there have been rumors of Morne Morkel bowling at an incredible speed of 173 km/h. There is no recorded incident of him bowling that fast in professional cricket. The fastest recorded delivery in cricket history is still 161.3 km/h. Which was bowled by Shoaib Akhtar in a World Cup match in 2003.