Cricket, a sport loved by millions around the globe, is a game of skill, strategy, and excitement. Among the many elements that make cricket exciting, fast bowling stands out as one of the most electrifying. Seeing a bowler charging in and delivering a ball at incredible speeds is definitely a sight to behold on a cricket field.
Pace bowlers, also known as speed guns or pace spearheads, bring excitement in the sport with their outrageous pace and accuracy. Bowling fast is a skill, and takes a lot of talent and practice to be effective at that speed. But who is the fastest bowler in the world?
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Top 15 World's Fastest Bowlers in Cricket History
Shoaib Akhtar, known as the "Rawalpindi Express," is the fastest bowler in cricket history. In a match against England in 2003, Akhtar bowled a delivery clocked at 161.3 km/h (100.23 mph), officially making him the first bowler to break the 100 mph barrier. Akhtar's raw pace and aggressive style made him a fearsome opponent for any batter.
Over the years, the likes of Waqar Younis, Brett Lee, Allan Donald, and Shaun Tait have surprised the batters with speed and accuracy throughout their career. Australia's Mitchell Starc, New Zealand's Lockie Ferguson, South Africa's Kagiso Rabada, India's Jasprit Bumrah, and England's Jofra Archer are a few of the fast bowlers who trouble the batters with express speed in world cricket at the moment.
All-time Fastest Deliveries in Cricket History (International)
| Rank | Bowler | Ball Speed | Country | Against | Year |
| 1 | Shoaib Akhtar | 161.3 km/hr (100.2 mph) | Pakistan | England | 2003 |
| 2 | Shaun Tait | 161.1 km/hr (100.1 mph) | Australia | England | 2010 |
| 3 | Brett Lee | 161.1 km/hr (100.1 mph) | Australia | New Zealand | 2005 |
| 4 | Jeffrey Thomson | 160.6 km/hr (99.8 mph) | Australia | West Indies | 1975 |
| 5 | Mitchell Starc | 160.4 km/hr (99.7 mph) | Australia | New Zealand | 2015 |
| 6 | Andy Roberts | 159.5 km/hr (99.1 mph) | West Indies | Australia | 1975 |
| 7 | Fidel Edwards | 157.7 km/hr (97.9 mph) | West Indies | South Africa | 2003 |
| 8 | Mitchell Johnson | 156.8 km/hr (97.4 mph) | Australia | England | 2013 |
| 9 | Mohammed Shami | 156.4 km/hr (97.1 mph) | Pakistan | Zimbabwe | 2003 |
| 10 | Shane Bond | 156.4 km/hr (97.1 mph) | New Zealand | India | 2003 |
Also read: Updated List Of Purple Cap Holders in IPL 2024
Australia's Shaun Tait, referred as "The Wild Thing," terrorized batters with his pace. Tait's fastest delivery was recorded at 161.1 km/h (100.1 mph) during a match against England in 2010.
Brett Lee was another Australian speedster who was one of the most consistent fast bowlers of his generation. Known for his smooth run-up and explosive pace, his fastest delivery, recorded at 161.1 km/h (100.1 mph), came during a match against New Zealand in 2005.
Jeff Thomson, or "Thommo," played for Australia during the 1970s. He was known for his unconventional slinging action, allowing him to generate tremendous speed. Thomson's fastest delivery was estimated around 160.6 km/h (99.8 mph) bowled in 1975 against the West Indies.
Mitchell Starc is one of the fastest bowlers in modern cricket. Known for his ability to swing the ball at high speeds, Starc's fastest delivery was clocked at 160.4 km/h (99.7 mph) during a Test match against New Zealand in 2015.
India's Fastest Bowlers
Hyderabad’s fast bowler Umran Malik holds the record for the fastest ball bowled by an Indian player. Umran constantly bowled at an average speed of around 150 km/hr, with many deliveries crossing the 150 mark during the Indian Premier League 2022 season. Umran Malik bowled a 157.0 kph (97.5 mph) delivery against Delhi to become the fastest Indian bowler.
Mayank Yadav, playing for Lucknow, made headlines by bowling the second-fastest delivery by an Indian player. Mayank bowled a 156.7 kph (97.3 mph) delivery against Bengaluru during IPL 2024.
List of Fastest Indian Bowlers of All-time
| Rank | Bowler | Fastest Ball Delivery | For | Against | Year |
| 1 | Umran Malik | 157 km/hr | Hyderabad | Delhi | 2022 |
| 2 | Mayank Yadav | 156.7 km/hr | Lucknow | Bengaluru | 2024 |
| 3 | Irfan Pathan | 153.7 km/hr | India | Pakistan | 2007 |
| 4 | Mohammed Shami | 153.3 km/hr | India | Australia | 2014 |
| 5 | Jasprit Bumrah | 153.26 km/hr | India | Australia | 2018 |
Fastest Ball in IPL 2024
LSG's speedster Mayank Yadav delivered the fastest ball in IPL 2024. Bought for just 20 Lakhs by Lucknow in the auction, Mayank made his debut against and registered figures of 3/27. He bowled with pace and accuracy and was awarded the Player of the Match for his match-turning spell. He bowled at an average speed of around 148 km/hr, with many deliveries crossing the 150 mark. Mayank took 7 wickets in 4 matches before getting injured and missing the rest of the season.
FAQ’s
Who is the fastest bowler in the world?
Shoaib Akhtar bowled the fastest ball in cricket history at 161.3 km/hr (100.2 mph) during a 2003 World Cup match against England in Durban, South Africa.
Has anyone ever bowled 100 mph?
Shoaib Akhtar, Shaun Tait and Brett Lee are the three bowlers to cross the 100 mph speed barrier in the history of cricket. Fellow Australians Jeffrey Thompson and Mitchell Starc came close with 99.8 and 99.7 mph deliveries respectively.
Who is the Indian fastest bowler?
Umran Malik holds the record for the fastest ball ever bowled by an Indian bowler, reaching a scorching 157 km/hr during IPL 2022. Mayank Yadav comes second, clocking an impressive 156.7 km/hr during an IPL match in 2024.
How fast is Jasprit Bumrah?
Jasprit Bumrah's fastest delivery is at 153.26 km/hr against Australia in 2018.
