Top 10 Fastest Bowlers in Cricket History and Their Bowling Record
by Surya
Updated Apr 18, 2023
World Fastest Bowler Ranking
Looking for information on the fastest bowlers in cricket history? Look no further than our comprehensive list of the Top 10 Fastest Bowlers in Cricket History. From the blistering pace of Shoaib Akhtar to the deadly accuracy of Brett Lee, our guide takes you through the careers of the speed merchants who have lit up cricket fields around the world. Discover their top speeds, memorable performances, and impact on the game. Whether you're a cricket enthusiast or just looking to learn more, our guide is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of fast bowling in cricket.
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Top 10 Fastest Bowlers in Cricket History
1
Shoaib Akhtar
161.3 km/h
Pakistan
2
Shaun Tait
161.1 km/h
Australia
3
Brett Lee
160.8 km/h
Australia
4
Jeff Thomson
160.6 km/h
Australia
5
Mitchell Starc
160.4 km/h
Australia
6
Andy Roberts
159.5 km/h
West Indies
7
Fidel Edwards
157.7 km/h
West Indies
8
Mitchell Johnson
156.8 km/h
Australia
9
Mohammad Sami
156.4 km/h
Pakistan
10
Shane Bond
156.4 km/h
New Zealand
Rank
Fast Bowlers
Record
Country
Here we share the description of the Top 10 Fastest Bowlers in Cricket History:-
Shoaib Akhtar
Shoaib Akhtar, also known as the "Rawalpindi Express", is considered one of the fastest bowlers to have ever played cricket. He holds the world record for the fastest delivery ever bowled, at 161.3 km/h (100.23 mph). Akhtar's aggressive and intimidating style made him a feared opponent, and he was known for his ability to generate extreme pace with minimal effort. He played for Pakistan from 1997 to 2011, and took 247 wickets in 163 matches across all formats of the game.
Shaun Tait
Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait was known for his raw pace and ability to generate bounce off the pitch. He made his international debut in 2005 and quickly became a regular in the Australian team, thanks to his ability to bowl in excess of 150 km/h (93 mph). Tait's best performances came in limited-overs cricket, where he was able to use his pace to great effect. He retired from international cricket in 2017, having taken 95 wickets in 35 matches across all formats.
Brett Lee
Australian fast bowler Brett Lee was one of the most successful fast bowlers of his era. Known for his consistency and accuracy, Lee was able to bowl at speeds in excess of 150 km/h (93 mph) throughout his career. He played for Australia from 1999 to 2012, taking 310 wickets in 76 Tests and 380 wickets in 221 One Day Internationals (ODIs). Lee was also a skilled lower-order batsman and a valuable fielder, making him a true all-rounder.
Jeff Thomson
Jeff Thomson was an Australian fast bowler who terrorized batsmen in the 1970s with his blistering pace. Along with Dennis Lillee, Thomson formed one of the most fearsome bowling partnerships in cricket history. He was known for his unique slingshot action, which allowed him to generate pace and bounce that was previously unseen in cricket. Thomson played for Australia from 1972 to 1985, taking 200 wickets in 51 Tests and 55 wickets in 50 ODIs.
Mitchell Starc
Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc is one of the most exciting bowlers in modern cricket. Known for his left-arm swing and ability to generate pace, Starc has been a regular member of the Australian team since his debut in 2010. He has taken 255 wickets in 64 Tests and 184 wickets in 98 ODIs, making him one of the most successful bowlers of his era. Starc's best performances have come in the ICC Cricket World Cup, where he has taken 49 wickets in 18 matches at an average of 18.16.
Andy Roberts
Andy Roberts is a former West Indian cricketer, widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time. He played for the West Indies between 1974 and 1983, and during his career, he took 202 Test wickets at an average of 25.61. Roberts was known for his devastating pace, accuracy, and ability to generate movement off the pitch. He was also an excellent fielder and a useful lower-order batsman. Roberts was a key member of the West Indies team that dominated world cricket in the 1970s and 1980s. He played a major role in their victory over England in the 1976 Test series, taking 28 wickets in the five matches. Roberts was also part of the West Indies team that won the first two editions of the Cricket World Cup in 1975 and 1979.
Fidel Edwards
Fidel Edwards is a former West Indian cricketer who played for the West Indies between 2003 and 2016. Edwards was a fast bowler known for his blistering pace and ability to swing the ball. He played 55 Test matches for the West Indies, taking 165 wickets at an average of 37.87. Edwards was also a key member of the West Indies team that won the ICC World Twenty20 in 2012. Edwards had a reputation for being injury-prone, but when he was fit, he was a fearsome bowler who could take wickets with his sheer pace and aggression. He had a particularly good record against the top-ranked teams, taking 5-wicket hauls against Australia, South Africa, and India.
Mitchell Johnson
Mitchell Johnson is a former Australian cricketer who played for Australia between 2005 and 2015. Johnson was a left-arm fast bowler who could generate tremendous pace and swing the ball both ways. He played 73 Test matches for Australia, taking 313 wickets at an average of 28.40. Johnson was also a key member of the Australian team that won the Cricket World Cup in 2007 and 2015. Johnson's greatest performance came in the 2013-14 Ashes series, where he terrorized the English batsmen with his pace and swing. He took 37 wickets in the five-match series and was named the Player of the Series.
Muhammad Sami
Mohammad Sami is a former Pakistani cricketer who played for Pakistan between 2001 and 2016. Sami was a right-arm fast bowler known for his pace and ability to swing the ball. He played 36 Test matches for Pakistan, taking 85 wickets at an average of 52.74. Sami was also a key member of the Pakistan team that won the ICC World Twenty20 in 2009. Sami had a reputation for being inconsistent and sometimes struggled with his control. However, when he was on song, he was a difficult bowler to face, as he could generate considerable pace and swing the ball both ways.
Shane Bond
Shane Bond is a former New Zealand cricketer who is widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers of his generation. He was equally adept at bowling with the new ball as well as the old, and was particularly effective in conditions that offered some assistance to fast bowlers. He was known to generate speeds in excess of 150 km/h and was widely feared by batsmen around the world. Over the course of his international career, Bond played 18 Test matches, 82 One Day Internationals (ODIs), and 20 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) for New Zealand. He took a total of 259 wickets in ODIs at an average of 20.88 and 87 wickets in Test matches at an average of 22.09. He also took 25 wickets in T20Is at an average of 21.76.
India's Fastest Bowler in Cricket History
S.No
Name Of The Bowler
Fastest Ball
Javagal Srinath
154.5 kmph (96 mph)
Ishant Sharma
152.6 kmph (94.8 mph)
Varun Aaron
152.5 kmph
Umesh Yadav
152.2 kmph (94.5 mph)
Ashish Nehra
149.7 kmph (93 mph)
Top 10 Fastest Bowlers in Cricket History - FAQs
Cricket is a team sport that originated in England in the 16th century. It is played with a bat and a ball, and two teams of 11 players each. The objective of the game is to score runs by hitting the ball and running between two sets of wickets.
The length of a cricket match can vary depending on the format of the game being played. Test matches, which are the longest format, can last up to five days, with six hours of play each day. One Day Internationals (ODIs) usually last for a maximum of eight hours, while Twenty20 (T20) matches typically last for around three hours.
There are three main formats of cricket: Test matches, One Day Internationals (ODIs), and Twenty20 (T20) matches. Test matches are the longest format, lasting up to five days, while ODIs are limited to 50 overs per side, and T20 matches are limited to 20 overs per side.
Cricket is scored in runs. The batting team scores runs by hitting the ball and running between the two sets of wickets. If the ball is hit to the boundary without bouncing, the batting team is awarded four runs. If the ball goes over the boundary without touching the ground, the batting team is awarded six runs. The fielding team can score by taking wickets, which means getting the batsman out.
The Cricket World Cup is an international tournament in which national teams compete against each other. It is organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and takes place every four years. The tournament consists of a round-robin group stage, followed by knockout matches, with the winner being crowned world champion.