In cricket, bowlers who reach 140kmph are regarded as Fast bowlers. Bowlers delivering above 145kmph are called genuine speedsters, and bowlers reaching 150kmph are considered express pace bowlers. In this blog, we will take a look at the bowlers who bowled the fastest balls in cricket history.
Top 10 Fastest Balls in International Cricket
| Bowler | Fastest Delivery | Country | Against | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shoaib Akhtar | 161.3 km/hr (100.2 mph) | Pakistan | England | 2003 |
| Shaun Tait | 161.1 km/hr (100.1 mph) | Australia | England | 2010 |
| Brett Lee | 161.1 km/hr (100.1 mph) | Australia | New Zealand | 2005 |
| Jeffrey Thomson | 160.6 km/hr (99.8 mph) | Australia | West Indies | 1975 |
| Mitchell Starc | 160.4 km/hr (99.7 mph) | Australia | New Zealand | 2015 |
| Andy Roberts | 159.5 km/hr (99.1 mph) | West Indies | Australia | 1975 |
| Fidel Edwards | 157.7 km/hr (97.9 mph) | West Indies | South Africa | 2003 |
| Mitchell Johnson | 156.8 km/hr (97.4 mph) | Australia | England | 2013 |
| Mohd. Sami | 156.4 km/hr (97.1 mph) | Pakistan | Zimbabwe | 2003 |
| Shane Bond | 156.4 km/hr (97.1 mph) | New Zealand | India | 2003 |
Shoaib Akhtar bowled the fastest ball in cricket history – 161.3kmph
Pakistani speedster Shoaib Akhtar holds the record for the fastest ball in cricket history. During an ODI match against England, Shoaib Akhtar was bowling the fourth over. On the last ball of the over, Shoaib clocked a speed of 161.3 kmph or 100.2 mph, making it the fastest delivery ever bowled in cricket.
Nick Knight was the batsman facing the ball and managed to flick the delivery to mid-wicket. Shoaib Akhtar is also known as the Rawalpindi Express and is deemed the fastest bowler in cricket history.
Talking about bowling quick, Akhtar, in an interview, said, “When you touch 155 kph as a bowler, remember that you have another 5 kmph inside you. However, adding that extra pace to your bowling requires specific training. Before I broke the 100 miles record, I was bowling at speeds of 157-158 kph but could not reach 160. I was a bit baffled over the same, wondering why it was not happening,”
“I began by running with tires but soon realized that they are light. Next, I started pulling small vehicles with my shoulders. There is less public in Islamabad, so I used to pull vehicles in the night. I used to match its speed with the pace of my run-up. I realized that the vehicle is also small, so I started pulling a truck. I used to pull a truck for 4-5 miles.
“When I bowled on 26-yard strips, my speed came down to 142-143 kph. But my aim remained to touch 150 kph on 26-yard surfaces. My muscles were in great shape back then and I started bowling with old, worn-out balls. I was aiming to hit the wickets with those old balls.”
Shaun Tait bowled the second fastest delivery in world cricket
Shaun Tait was known for aggressive bowling and breaking speed barriers. Bowling at 150kmph was quite an easy task for him. And he broke the barrier when he bowled 100mph/161kmph, the second fastest bowl in cricket history.
This happened when he was playing against England in 2010. Shaun had the bowl in his hands during the first over of the second innings. He bowled the first four balls at a speed of more than 150kmph. And in the fifth ball of the over, he broke the record for the fastest delivery in world cricket.
Brett Lee: Joint-Second Fastest Ball in Cricket History
Joining Shaun Tait is another Australia Speedster, Brett Lee. Brett Lee was known for his speed worldwide, and he was even more skillful as he could swing and seam the ball as well. Lee is loved by a massive number of fans worldwide. Many fast bowlers idolise him as he was consistent with his pace and was feared by the opposition due to his speed.
