Top 10 Fastest Delivery in Cricket History: Fastest Bowlers Ever

The fastest delivery in cricket is one of the most exciting records in the sport. There have been a few great bowlers who ran in and aimed to break the sound barrier, regularly charging in at speeds of over 150 km/h- Shoaib Akhtar with his magic ball of 161.3 km/h, Brett Lee, Shaun Tait and Mitchell Starc as few of those who gave us moments to cherish!

What Is the Fastest Delivery in Cricket History?

The fastest delivery in men’s cricket ever officially recorded is a ball bowled by Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar to England, at 161.3 km/h (100.23 mph), during the 2003 World Cup played on February 22, 2003 at Newlands, Cape Town This is recorded in Guinness World Records as the fastest speed ever electronically measured on a cricket ball.

It has become one of the most renowned pace-bowling feats in cricket, since Akhtar was clocked at over 100mph and set a record on the way as he earned his nickname, the Rawalpindi Express.

Top 10 Fastest Bowlers in Cricket History

1. Shoaib Akhtar – 161.3 km/h

Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar is still the fastest bowler in cricket history, clocking a ball at 161.3 km/h off his bowling hand against England during an ODI World Cup match at Cape Town way back in 2003.

With a long run-up, explosive action and natural pace he became the endowed fast bowler of his generation. His record still stands as the high water mark for express pace in international cricket.

2. Brett Lee – 161.1 km/h

Brett Lee, the Australian fast bowler was also in the elite 160 km/h club of cricket. He recorded a 161.1 km/h as his top speed, putting him second behind Akhtar on most all-time lists.

Lee had easy action and explosive pace, capable of opening up sides through his constant pursuit of speed. He was also one the fastest bowlers during the 2003 World Cup according to data from ICC

3. Shaun Tait – 161.1 km/h

Shaun Tait from Australia was known for his pacey fast bowling action. Against England at Lord’s in 2010, he bowled as fast as 161.1 km/h.

Tait was nicknamed “The Wild Thing” and he had pace to burn. He had an idiosyncratic action and could hit extreme speeds making him a dangerous customer for batsmen especially in shorter formats.

4. Jeff Thomson – 160.6 km/h

Jeff Thomson, whose uncoiling whip-like action supported his reputation as one of the fastest bowlers who ever lived, and combined with Dennis Lillee to create one of Australia’s all-time great pace duos in the 1970s.

A 160.6 km/h delivery during the winter of 1975–76 is perhaps Thomson’s most famous credit. But his figure is derived from older measurement techniques, and so comparisons with current radar measurements must be taken cautiously.

5. Mitchell Starc – 160.4 km/h

In the Test against New Zealand in Perth in 2015, Australia’s left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc became only the second player to enter an exclusive club of those who’ve managed to reach that figure and above at will – players who have broken the 160 km/h mark.

At the WACA, Starc bowled Ross Taylor at 160.4 km/h Australia cricket termed it as one of the fastest deliveries ever bowled and one of Starc’s fastest spells.

Starc is a lethal combination of pace and left arm angle, swing and yorkers, specially with the new ball and at the death.

6. Andy Roberts – 159.5 km/h

Andy Roberts is one of the early trailblazers of express fast bowling in Test cricket for the West Indies. He has also been an integral part of the dreaded West Indies pace attack during the 1970s era.

Roberts is generally credited with a historical peak of around 159.5 km/h, like this Thompson figure; it was established long before the advent of modern speed measurement technology.

7. Fidel Edwards – 157.7 km/h

Fidel Edwards was a great pacer for the West Indies whose unique action saw him bowl almost borderline labelled as unplayable. His fastest recorded delivery is usually rated at 157.7 km/h.

But Edwards was more than just a lively medium pacer with quick arm in context of England’s needs and if he could trouble batsmen with speed despite his relatively short stature.

9. Mohammad Sami – 156.4 km/h

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson recorded a best of around 156.8 km/h (97.5 mph) – but he was slower than that at the time!

His ability to resolve through hostile spells and produce a steep bounce made him largely popular. His raw pace, aggression and angle from over the wicket made him a significant threat at international level.

10. Shane Bond – 156.4 km/h

Completing this list is New Zealand’s Shane Bond, who registered a top speed of around 156.4 km/h.

Bond was indeed a combination of real speed with accuracy and movement. He was held back by injuries in his international career, but there were enough performances to make him one of New Zealand’s most potent pace bowlers.

Why Is 160 km/h So Difficult to Achieve?

Getting to bowl 160 km/h requires a rare blend of run-up, strength, coordination, timing, bowling mechanics and physical conditioning. The more the speed, the ball reaches the batsman in no time and hence almost no reaction time you have.

But then fast bowlers are not great only for the speed. Bowlers like Starc, Lee, Akhar and Roberts also learned to swing the ball (in both directions), seam movement, extract bounce from a pitch and bowl with amazing accuracy with those pace variations.

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