When it comes to cricket, speed is a key ingredient and bowlers who are able to get the ball moving fast have often left batters in disbelief. We take a look at the top ten bowler throw a fastest ball in cricket history to see who they are and how they broke records.
Table of Contents
Fastest Ball in Cricket History – Top 10 Bowler Ranking List
| Bowler | Fastest delivery | Against | Year |
| Shoaib Akhtar (Pakistan) | 161.3 km/hr (100.2 mph) | England | 2003 |
| Shaun Tait (Australia) | 161.1 km/hr (100.1 mph) | England | 2010 |
| Brett Lee (Australia) | 160.8 km/hr (99.9 mph) | New Zealand | 2005 |
| Jeffrey Thomson (Australia) | 160.6 km/hr (99.8 mph) | West Indies | 1975 |
| Mitchell Starc (Australia) | 160.4 km/hr (99.7 mph) | New Zealand | 2015 |
| Andy Roberts (West Indies) | 159.5 km/hr (99.1 mph) | Australia | 1975 |
| Fidel Edwards (West Indies) | 157.7 km/hr (97.9 mph) | South Africa | 2003 |
| Mitchell Johnson (Australia) | 156.8 km/hr (97.4 mph) | England | 2013 |
| Mohammad Sami (Pakistan) | 156.4 km/hr (97.1 mph) | Zimbabwe | 2003 |
| Shane Bond (New Zealand) | 156.4 km/hr (97.1 mph) | India | 2003 |
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Fastest Ball in Cricket History – 1. Shoaib Akhtar
In 2003, Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar clocked 161.3 km/h in a match against England. It was the fastest delivery in cricket history.
During his prime, the Rawalpindi Express was a walking nightmare that intimidated batters with his lethal pace. His toe-crushing yorkers shattered even the finest batsmen of his generation including Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Brian Lara.
It took a lot of talent and hard work to bowl at express speed. It’s a rare skill that takes years to master, but if a bowler can manage to keep it up, they become a very dangerous opponent for the batsmen.
The fast bowlers of the modern day world have taken the sport to a whole new level with their incredible pace and accuracy with the ball in hand. With the likes of Australia’s Mitchell Starc, New Zealand’s Lockie Ferguson and South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada proving to be a threat, there is no shortage of exciting bowlers with express speed in world cricket right now.
Umran Malik has been one of the biggest talking points during the ongoing 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL). He has managed to consistently bowl at over 150 km/h throughout the season, gaining the attention of everyone.
If Malik can keep up this pace, then he will surely go down as the fastest bowler in cricket history. But to achieve that, he must have the proper fitness and workload management.
He will have to be a very good player in order to beat the former Pakistani bowler’s record of 161.3 km/h. But Akhtar believes that Malik can do it if he can get the proper training and the BCCI can support him properly.
Fastest Ball in Cricket History – 2. Shaun Tait
Shaun Tait is an Australian fast bowler who is known for his raw and fiery pace. He is a right-arm fast bowler who has represented Australia in all formats of the game. He is best known for his performances in One Day International and Twenty20 cricket.
His career started with impressive performances for South Australia in domestic limited-overs cricket, including an 8 for 43 against Tasmania which was the most impressive figures of any bowler in that tournament. He was soon selected for the 2005 Ashes tour, and took three huge wickets in the first Test at Trent Bridge.
He had a successful 2007 World Cup campaign, taking 23 wickets in the tournament, and was part of the undefeated Australian team at the 2008 Cricket World Cup. However, he had to take a break from international cricket after sustaining injuries that damaged his elbow.
In 2022, he was appointed the Pakistan cricket team’s fast-bowling coach for a year. He was tasked with preparing the team to achieve great results in future matches.
During his tenure, he has earned a lot of accolades and awards. Some of these include the ICC Young Player of the Year award in 2004 and the ING Cup’s Best New Talent prize.
He has a beautiful family, consisting of his wife and their daughter, and he posts pictures on social networking sites from time to time. He adores his wife, and he is often seen with her in public. He is also an active member of a social club in Adelaide.
Fastest Ball in Cricket History – 3. Brett Lee
Despite being a soft-natured guy on the field, Brett Lee could bowl a real fast ball. He was renowned for his fast and furious pace which often breached 160 kmph.
He was also a real threat with his accurate bouncers and deadly Yorker. His fast bowling spells lit up stadiums around the world and he was a real weapon for Australia during their glory days in the early 2000s.
Brett Lee clocked 161.1 kph for his fastest delivery against New Zealand at Napier in 2005, where they batted in an ODI. He was one of the fastest bowlers in his era and was a real dreaded opponent for any batsman.
Fastest Ball in Cricket History – 4. Jeffrey Thomson
The first fastest bowler to breach the 100 mph barrier was Australian bowler Jeffrey Thomson, or “Tommo” as he was known in his era. He was one of a number of fast bowlers who terrorised the batsman with his deadly bouncers and pace.
He was also a great fielder and was a good lower order batsman. He picked up 200 wickets in Test cricket and 55 ODIs.
Jeff Thomson had a very unique style of bowling that was influenced by his early training in javelin throwing. He was a very aggressive and pacy bowler who ambled to the crease before launching the ball at extremely fast speeds through his instantly recognisable sling.
Despite a few batting mistakes, he was a great test bowler and became a legend in his own right. He was rated as one of the most complete genuine fast bowlers that had ever played in test cricket by many top class batsmen including Sunil Gavaskar, Martin Crowe and Clive Lloyd.
He is a well-known figure around the world and now works as a cricket speaker in both Britain and Australia. He is very entertaining and witty and has a wealth of stories to tell about his time as a player.
He is a man who can make even the most reluctant of cricket fans sit up and take notice. During his time as a cricket speaker he will share his experiences in both domestic and international cricket.
Fastest Ball in Cricket History – 5. Mitchell Starc
Known for his in-swinging yorkers, Mitchell Starc is one of the fastest bowlers in world cricket. The Australian has a reputation for throwing devastating deliveries and his ability to get a batsman out is one of the main reasons why he has been consistently ranked among the best in world cricket.
Mitchell Starc is a left-arm fast bowler who has been part of the Australian Test team since 2010. His impressive international career was disrupted by a series of injuries and he made his debut at just 19 years old.
He has a reputation for securing crucial wickets in both Test and ODI formats. He has taken 255 Test wickets and 184 ODI wickets in his international career so far.
The left-armer also boasts of a strong batting record and is a consistent contributor in the ICC 50-over World Cup tournaments. Despite his recent dip in form, Starc is still considered to be one of the top pacers in the game.
Starc’s speed can be attributed to his height of 1.96 meters, which allows him to utilise the natural bounce created by the ball as he swings it around. This enables him to take the ball on a runaway path, which gives him a greater chance of getting a batsman out.
His patented ‘Motor’ action has been the envy of many a fast bowler and his ability to hit batsmen hard with both his off-spin and leg-spin makes him a fearsome opponent. He is one of the most experienced fast bowlers in the game and has played a huge part in Australia’s success at the recent ICC World Cup.
Fastest Ball in Cricket History – 6. Andy Roberts
In the 1970s, the West Indies were regarded as one of cricket’s most powerful sides and they won the 1975 Test series against Australia on the back of the formidable bowling attack of Andy Roberts. The first of the modern West Indian fast bowlers, Roberts was a fearsome threat for any batsman.
In his career, Roberts took a total of 200 Test wickets and helped pave the way for a host of other great fast bowlers to follow in his footsteps. Michael Holding, Joel Garner, Colin Croft and Peter Marshall all went on to play a key role in establishing the modern West Indies side.
He was also a coach and had an extensive career in the administration of West Indian cricket, and has worked on preparing pitches to help the country’s aspiring quick bowlers.
While he may be one of the best fast bowlers in cricket history, Roberts has some regrets about the game and has urged his fellow fast bowlers to focus more on their line and lengths instead of bowling fast.
According to Roberts, the advent of T20 cricket has ruined the art of fast bowling and it makes him sad to see a current West Indies fast bowling unit.
It was during his heyday in the 1970s that Roberts made his mark as the fastest bowler in cricket and became a legend in his own right. He was a true threat for any batsman and had a knack for changing pace at the perfect time to hit a deadly bouncer or a yorker.
Fastest Ball in Cricket History – 7. Fidel Edwards
The West Indies bowler Fidel Edwards was a renowned fast bowler and one of the fastest in history. He had an exceptional start to his career and earned a call-up to the West Indies Test team soon after being spotted in the nets by Brian Lara.
He got off to a flying start with his first Test match against Sri Lanka in Jamaica, where he took five wickets in the first innings and six in the second. This was a great way to get his name recognised, and he went on to make his ODI debut against Zimbabwe in 2003.
His speed and aggression on the field made him a highly-feared bowler, and he was one of the most exciting players to watch in the game. His round-arm action and quick feet allowed him to strike the ball with ferocity, and he often used reverse swing to take his wickets.
Although his pace has faded, he is still an important member of the West Indies side. He has 165 Test wickets, 60 ODI wickets and 7 T20I wickets to his name, and is known for his fiery approach to the game.
However, his good form has been halted due to injury. He had a back problem in 2009, and he was forced to withdraw from the T20 World Cup in 2010 because of it. He was then called back to the national side for a series against Australia, but he was not quite the same player by then.
Despite this, he was an important part of the West Indies team, and was a big contributor to their success in the 1990s and early 2000s. His bowling was praised by many, and he ranked in the top three West Indian fast bowlers at the time of his retirement.
He was a regular in the West Indies bowling line-up during this period, and he also played in a few limited-overs tournaments, including the IPL. He was also a regular in the West Indies squad at the World Cups in 1996 and 2006.
His best-ever ODI spell came against England in 2013, when he threw a thunderbolt to beat Ross Taylor. The delivery, which clocked at 156.8 km/h, is the fastest by a non-Australian bowler.
Fastest Ball in Cricket History – 8. Mitchell Johnson
As an Australian cricketer, Mitchell Johnson has had a storied career and is one of the most well-known players in the world. He has been able to perform well in all three formats of the game and is an absolute delight to watch. He is a talented bowler and has an excellent technique for the ball. He is a dangerous batsman as well and has been a key player for Australia in recent times.
He has a knack for taking wickets in crucial situations. Whether it is against New Zealand in the 2007 ODI series or against India in the 2011 World Cup, he has the ability to pick wickets at the crucial time and has been a key player in helping Australia win games.
In addition to his brilliant bowling, Johnson is also a very good batsman and can play all orthodox shots. His aggressive approach to the game has allowed him to perform well when needed, particularly when he is batting in the death overs.
While he has had many ups and downs in his career, it is a testament to his character that he has always managed to stay focused on his career no matter what happens. He has been an inspiration to young players who have followed in his footsteps.
When it comes to the bowling department, he is one of the best in the world. His pace and swing are both amazing. He has also been a master of the bouncer. He is a true all-rounder and has had a fantastic career in both international and domestic cricket.
He is also a great leader and has helped his team to win multiple matches. He has been a consistent force in the Australian team and has won numerous awards. He is currently the leading wicket-taker in the world and has taken a huge amount of wickets.
In his last Test match against Pakistan, he picked up four wickets in just nine overs, taking down the top-order to help the Aussies beat the Pakistani team. He was named man of the match for his performances in the match and the series.
Fastest Ball in Cricket History – 9. Mohammad Sami
The Pakistani pacer had an impressive career, playing 36 Test matches and 87 ODIs for the national team. He also featured in 13 T20Is.
He was a very good wicket taker during his time with the team and made a strong start to his career by taking 8 wickets for 106 runs against New Zealand in his debut match.
His first hat-trick in Test cricket came against Sri Lanka in 2001 and in 2002, he took five wickets for just 10 runs against West Indies during a One Day International match.
In a game against Zimbabwe, he bowled his fastest delivery in international cricket at 156.4 kmph. The ICC later said that it was a malfunction with the speed gun, and not a fault on the part of Sami himself.
Fastest Ball in Cricket History – 10. Shane Bond
Shane Bond is one of the most talented pace bowlers who ever played for New Zealand. He was a fearsome bowler who would regularly hit the 150 km/h mark and create a lot of speed with his deliveries.
In his career, Bond was known for his ability to make the perfect yorker. He was also a very good fielder, allowing him to score runs as well.
He was a very strong wicket taker in both ODIs and Test matches. He took 5/25 in New Zealand’s ODI win over Australia in January 2002 and 6/23 against Australia in the 2003 World Cup.
Bond was a very good all-rounder for New Zealand and he was also a good hitter. He was a very quick player and could also slog the ball for a few runs at the end of the innings.
During his career, Bond had some injuries that kept him out of action. However, he managed to come back and play for his country.
His first major injury was a stress fracture in his back which he had to have surgery on. This injury ruled him out of international cricket for two years.
Another major injury that he had was an ankle injury. This injury hampered his bowling and caused him to miss some games.
After he had this injury, he was back in action for the next two years and he managed to come back into the side with a remodelled bowling action which proved to be very effective.
He is still a very good bowler and he is always on the lookout for the fastest ball in cricket. His record is 156 km/h which came against Sri Lanka in Guwahati on Tuesday.