Cricket is among the toughest sports in the world. This is because the margin of error in this game is very thin. We often regard cricket as a batting-dominated game. But sometimes, it ends up being a bowler’s paradise. Many times, in the rich history of cricket, bowlers have changed the overall outcome of the game with their efforts and performance.
Being a fast bowler, you always need accuracy, swing and bounce. But one weapon which can rattle any batsman in the world is rear pace. Because a pacy bowler can create problems for any high-class batsman as well. The world has seen many bowlers who can bowl consistently over 90 miles per hour. But a few had the ability to break all records. In this article, we will cover the list of the fastest bowlers in the world.
3. Shaun Tait (161.1 km/h) – Australia
In Australia, former fast bowler Shaun Tait makes it to third on the list. Well, Australia has produced some of the fastest bowlers in history, and Tait is certainly among the top. He made his debut for Australia in August 2005 against England in a test match. Soon, he caught the eyes of everyone for his fast and speedy character.
He had a slingy action and always looked to bowl first. However, he didn’t have much success at the international level, but he did register his name for an American record. He bowled the joint-second fastest delivery in cricket against England. Tait bowled a ball at 161.1 km/h (100.1 m/ph) and became only the third bowler to touch the 100 m/ph mark. He once again touched the 100 m/ph mark against Pakistan in a T20 in Melbourne.
2. Brett Lee (161.1 km/h) – Australia
Speaking of the early and late 2000s, one name certainly troubles every batter in all formats. And he was former Australian speedster Brett Lee, who was known for bowling fast and accurate. He was the main weapon for Australia in that decade and was one of the most successful bowlers in the game. He was the world fastest bowler in his country and the second fastest in the game’s history.
Lee was one of the reasons that Australia dominated in that era. He played for 13 years for his country and was the second bowler to reach the 100 mph mark. He bowled the second fastest delivery in the history of the game in 2005 against New Zealand at Napier, with a speed of 161.1 km/h (100.1 mph). Lee was one of the few bowlers who consistently bowled at over 150 km/h.
1. Shoaib Akhtar (161.3 km/h) – Pakistan
When someone talks about speed in cricket, one name certainly comes to mind, which is that of the fastest bowler in the game, Shoaib Akhtar. The former Pakistan pacer, known for his thunderbolt, was a nightmare for the batsmen when he was in full flow. He had terrified many batters in his time, and that is why he was known as the “Rawalpindi Express”.
His action was pretty smooth, which helped him bowl fast. However, due to injury, he couldn’t carry on for long. In his 10-year superb international career, he was and is still the fastest bowler that the game has ever produced. Akhtar bowled the fastest delivery at a speed of 161.3 km/h (100.2 mph) against England at Cape town. In his career, Akhtar picked up 178 Test and 247 ODI scalps.
List of Fastest Bowler in the World
| # | Bowler | Team | Fastest Ball | Against | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Shoaib Akhtar | Pakistan | 161.3 km/hr (100.2 mph) | England | 2003 |
| 2nd | Brett Lee | Australia | 161.1 km/hr (100.1 mph) | England | 2005 |
| 3rd | Shaun Tait | Australia | 161.1 km/hr (100.1 mph) | New Zealand | 2010 |
| 4th | Jeffrey Thomson | Australia | 160.6 km/hr (99.8 mph) | West Indies | 1975 |
| 5th | Mitchell Starc | Australia | 160.4 km/hr (99.7 mph) | New Zealand | 2015 |
| 6th | Andy Roberts | West Indies | 159.5 km/hr (99.1 mph) | Australia | 1975 |
| 7th | Fidel Edwards | West Indies | 157.7 km/hr (97.9 mph) | South Africa | 2003 |
| 8th | Mitchell Johnson | Australia | 156.8 km/hr (97.4 mph) | England | 2013 |
| 9th | Mohammad Sami | Pakistan | 156.4 km/hr (97.1 mph) | Zimbabwe | 2003 |
| 10th | Shane Bond | New Zealand | 156.4 km/hr (97.1 mph) | India | 2003 |