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In cricket, fast bowling plays a crucial role and the team picks the fast bowlers to threaten the opposition batters and put them under pressure. We mostly see fast bowlers bowling in the start and end of the innings. Fast bowling is one of the most effective skills in the game and it takes a lot of hard work, fitness, and dedication to become a fast bowler.
There have been many legendary fast bowlers, who are not only known for their pace, but also for their perfect line and length that could become a nightmare for any top batter in the world. The average speed of a regular pace bowler is usually 140-145 kmph, and the speed above 150 kmph is considered as a great statistic. However, there are some faster bowlers who can regularly bowl beyond 150 kmph. In this article, we will discuss about the top 10 fastest deliveries in the history of cricket.
Fastest Balls in Cricket History: List of Top 10
10. Shane Bond (156.4 kmph)
Former New Zealand pacer Shane Bond is regarded as the best fast bowler to ever play for the country. Along with his lethal pace, Bond was also expert in his swing and bounce that could trouble any world class batter. He clocked the speed of 156.4 kmph during the 2003 World Cup fixture against India in Centurion, and finds himself in the 10th spot in the list of fastest deliveries in cricket.
Also See: All-Time Fastest Indian Bowlers
9. Mohammad Sami (156.4 kmph)
Pakistan is known for producing some of the best fast bowlers in the history of the game, Mohammad Sami is one of those who have achieved success because of their pace and accuracy. There are also some reports that he once clocked the speed of 164 kmph in an ODI unofficially. However, his official fastest delivery was recorded in 2003 when he clocked 156.4 kmph in an ODI against Zimbabwe.
8. Mitchell Johnson (156.8 kmph)
Former Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson was one of the fiercest pacers of his time. He used to be a nightmare for the batters at his peak. He comes in the eighth position in the list of fastest deliveries in cricket after he clocked 156.8 kmph against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground during the 2013 Ashes series.
7 Fidel Edwards (157.7 kmph)
Former West Indies pacer Fidel Edwards comes seventh in the list of fastest deliveries in cricket. Edwards was among the great fast bowlers for the Windies but his career was filled with injuries due to his unusual bowling action and follow-on. He clocked the speed of 157.7 kmph in a Test match against South Africa in 2003.
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6. Andy Roberts (159.9 kmph)
West Indies were dominating the cricket world in the decade of 1980s, and Andy Roberts was one of the star pacers for the Caribbean side at that time. He was a part of the team that won the consecutive World Cups in 1975 and 1979 respectively. He comes sixth in the list of fastest deliveries in cricket after he clocked 159.9 kmph in a match against Australia in Perth in 1975.
5. Jeffrey Thomson (160.4 kmph)
Jeffery Thomson is one of the fastest bowlers in cricket and used to be a nightmare for the batters during his peak. He was also famous with the nickname of Thommo among his teammates. Thomson comes fifth in the list of fastest deliveries for his 160.4 kmph delivery against West Indies in Perth in 1975.
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4. Mitchell Starc (160.4 kmph)
Australian pacer Mitchell Starc is among top active fast bowlers in the world currently. The left-arm pacer is one of the great modern day pacers and has been a spearhead of the Australian fast bowling throughout the years. He clocked the speed of 160.4 kmph in a Test match against New Zealand at the WACA in 2015.
3. Shaun Tait (160.7 kmph)
Former Australian pacer didn’t have a great success in international cricket but makes his appearance in the list of fastest balls in international cricket by coming in the third spot. He used to have a clingy bowling action and generated extra pace with broad shoulders. He clocked 160.7 kmph in the T20I against Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 2010.
2. Brett Lee (161.1 kmph)
One of the greatest fast bowlers to ever play for Australia, Brett Lee was a bowler who had speed and accuracy. He was one of the main reasons for the Australian domination in the decade of 2000. He was also part of the Australian team that won the ODI World Cup in 2003 and 2007, and the Champions Trophy in 2006 and 2009 consecutively. Lee also comes second in the list of fastest deliveries in cricket after he clocked the speed of 161.1 kmph in a match against New Zealand in Napier in 2005.
1. Shoaib Akhtar (161.3)
Arguably the fastest bowler in the world to ever play the game, former Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar tops the list of fastest deliveries in cricket. Shoaib was a kind of a bowler who starts his run from the boundary line and ends up delivering at the speed of more than 155 kmph regularly that made him a force to be reckoned with in world cricket. He was also known by the nickname of ‘Rawalpindi Express for his pace. Akhtar clocked the speed of 161.3 against England in the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.
