Fastest Bowler of the World in Cricket History

Today , I am going to inform you about the fastest bowler of the world in the cricket history . But before proceeding to our main topic , I would like to explain some basic points about fast bowling in cricket to newbies . But if you already are well equipped with these terms , you can surely skip to the business end .

WHAT IS FAST BOWLING AND WHO ARE FAST BOWLERS IN CRICKET ?

• Fast bowling is a major chunk of cricket . It has been playing an enormous role in making the sport so popular in the world .
• Whenever a player bowls fast (around 120 -160 kmph) to a batter, it is called fast bowling and he/she is referred as a fast bowler . Easy as you like .
• A cricketer can play various roles in the ground . This includes batters , wicket-keepers and bowlers . Bowlers are the one who have to deliver ball to the batter . It can be said that without them , this game cannot begin .There are different ways of throwing ball to batters. Bowlers include spinners , medium fast and fast bowlers .
• Generally , speed of medium pacers varies between 120 – 140 kmph . And here comes our FAST bowlers who ranges from 140 – 160 kmph (believe it or not ) .
• Fast bowlers have been the biggest threats for batters since ages. They not only break wickets with their pace but also batter’s body parts . Their presence always create pressure and fear in the minds of batters , especially with the new ball .
• They are aggressive and ruthless . And batsmen having these qualities can only survive and score runs against them . Cricket would have been incomplete without the unforgettable clashes between the legendary fast bowlers and batsmen .

TOP 10 WORLD’S FASTEST BOWLER IN CRICKET HISTORY

If you like video format too , you can watch this 2-minute video on my Youtube channel ‘Cricket Cordon’ :

Here is the list of TOP 10 fastest bowler of the world in cricket history and the fastest balls ever bowled by fast bowlers in the history of international cricket .

10. SHANE BOND ( NEW ZEALAND ) – 156.4 km/hr (97.1 mph)

• Shane Edward Bond (born 7 June 1975) is a New Zealand former cricketer who represented New Zealand in all the formats , described as “New Zealand’s best fast bowler since Sir Richard Hadlee” . He represented New Zealand in Tests , ODI and Twenty 20 International cricket .
• Shane Bond is one of the most lethal fast bowlers the cricketing world has ever seen. His ability to generate serious pace and movement with the ball made him a nightmare for any batsman facing him.
• He took 87 wickets in 18 Test matches, 147 wickets in 82 ODI’s and 25 wickets in 20 T20I’s .
• A right arm fast bowler , his fastest recorded delivery was clocked at 156.4 km/h against India in the 2003 World Cup.
• Unfortunately, Bond’s career was plagued with injuries, which prevented him from achieving even greater heights. He retired from international cricket in 2010 after struggling with numerous injuries throughout his career. However, his legacy as one of the most fearsome fast bowlers of all time remains intact.

9. MOHAMMAD SAMI (PAKISTAN) – 156.4 km/hr (97.1 mph)

• Mohammad Abdul Sami (born 24 February 1981) is a former Pakistani cricketer who played for the Pakistan national cricket team between 2001 and 2016 . He was a right arm fast Pakistani bowler and bowled his fastest bowl against Zimbabwe in 2003 at 156.4 km/hr. Sami had a quick arm action and is regarded as one of the fastest bowler not only of Pakistan but also of world cricket .
• Throughout his career, Sami was known for his ability to bowl at high speeds and his aggressive style of play. In 2002, he became the first Pakistani bowler to take a hat-trick in a Test match.
• He took 85 wickets in 36 Test matches , 121 wickets in 87 ODI’s and 21 wickets in 12 T20I’s .
• He has unofficially bowled the fastest delivery in cricket when he clocked at 164 km/h (101.9 mph) during a One Day International match against India in 2004. However, it was revoked by cricket officials after it found faulty speed measurements on the speed meter.
• Sami’s contributions to Pakistani cricket have been recognized by many, and he is considered one of the best fast bowlers the country has ever produced.

8. MITCHELL JOHNSON (AUSTRALIA) – 156.8 km/hr (97.4 mph)

• Mitchell Guy Johnson (born 2 November 1981) is an Australian former cricketer , who played all forms of the game until his retirement from international cricket in 2015. He is a left-arm fast bowler and left-handed batsman. Johnson was considered to be one of the greatest fast bowlers of his era .
• He took 313 wickets in 73 Test matches , 239 wickets in 153 ODI’s and 38 wickets in 30 T20I’s. Johnson represented Australia from 2005-2015 across all formats . He was also the fastest Australian bowler to reach 100 test wickets, achieving the feat in just 34 matches.
• He generally bowls the sling action and has the capability to bowl in excess of 150 km/h (93 mph), his fastest being 156.8 km/h (97.4 mph) in Melbourne in the 2013-14 Ashes series .
• His various fights with opponent batsmen also shows his competitive spirit and intensity in the game. He retired from international cricket in 2015 and continues to be remembered as one of the most fastest bowler of the world of his era.

7. FIDEL EDWARDS ( WEST INDIES ) – 157.7 km/hr (97.9 mph)

• Fidel Henderson Edwards (born 6 February 1982) is a Barbadian cricketer , who played all formats of cricket for West Indies . Edwards was known for his blistering pace and ability to trouble the best batsmen in the world. His bowling speed is around the late 80s and early 90s mph. His fastest was clocked at 157.7 km/h during the 2003 World Cup against South Africa .
• His best bowling figures in Test cricket were 7/87 against South Africa in 2005. He also took five-wicket haul in ODI cricket.
• He took 165 wickets in 55 Test matches , 60 wickets in 50 ODI’s and 20 wickets in 26 T20I’s .
• He will be remembered as one of the fastest bowlers of his generation and a valuable asset to the West Indies cricket team.

6. ANDY ROBERTS ( WEST INDIES ) – 159.5 km/hr (99.1 mph)

• Sir Anderson Montgomery Everton Roberts,  (born 29 January 1951) is a former Antiguan first-class cricketer who is considered the father of modern West Indies bowling . Roberts was known for his ability to bowl at incredible speeds.
• He played Test cricket for the West Indies . He was also part of the West Indies team that won the first two Prudential World Cups in England in 1975 and 1979 . Roberts was also the part of the West Indies team which ended up as runners-up in the 1983 ICC Cricket World Cup and was an integral part of the fearsome West Indies pace quartet of the 1970s, which also included Michael Holding, Joel Garner, and Colin Croft.
• He took 202 wickets in 47 Test matches and 87 wickets in 56 ODI’s . He was also the first West Indian to reach 100 wickets in ODIs, a feat he achieved in 1983.
• His fastest delivery was 159.5 kmph against Australia in Perth in 1975.
• Overall, Andy Roberts was one of the most formidable fast bowlers of his era. His ability to consistently bowl at high speeds and take wickets in crucial moments made him a valuable asset to the West Indies team.

5. MITCHELL STARC (AUSTRALIA) – 160.4 km/hr (99.7 mph)

• Mitchell Aaron Starc (born 30 January 1990) is an Australian international cricketer , who plays for the Australian national team. Starc is a fierce competitor known for his incredible speed and ability to swing the ball both ways. He has been one of the most feared fast bowlers in the world for several years now, and his career statistics are a testament to his exceptional talent. He is a left-arm fast bowler and a capable lower order left-handed batsman .
• He was a prominent member of the victorious Australian squad that won the 2015 Cricket World Cup and was declared Player of the Tournament as a result of his consistent performances. In 2019, Starc broke the record for the most wickets taken in a single edition of the cricket world cup, claiming 27 wickets in just 10 matches.
• Starc has been representing Australia from 2010 across all formats .He has taken 255 wickets in 61 Test mathes , 195 wickets in 99 ODI’s and 60 wickets in 48 T20I’s so far in his tremendous career .
• On 15 November 2015, Starc delivered one of the fastest deliveries in a Test match, of 160.4 km/h against Ross Taylor of New Zealand .

4. JEFFREY THOMPSON (AUSTRALIA) – 160.6 km/hr (99.8 mph)

• Jeffrey Robert Thomson (born 16 August 1950) is a former Australian cricketer , considered by many in the sport to be the fastest bowler of the world in cricket history . Thomson had an unusual but highly effective slinging delivery action that he learned from his father.
• In December 1975, after the second test match against the West Indies at the WACA, he was timed with a release speed of 160.45 km/h using highly accurate, high-speed Photo-Sonics cameras. He was a key player in the Australian cricket team during the 1970s and early 1980s, and his bowling record speaks for itself.
• He took 200 wickets in 51 Test matches , 55 wickets in 50 matches . Thomson represented Australia from 1972-85 in both the formats .
• Jeff Thomson bowled his fastest ball at 160.6 kmph on the fastest pitch in the world at Perth against the West Indies in 1975 series.
• The iconic fast bowler, Jeff Thompson, retired from the game in 1985, but his legacy lives on. He is still regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers to have ever played the game, and his record-breaking deliveries are remembered by cricket fans around the world.

3. BRETT LEE (AUSTRALIA) – 160.8 km/hr (99.9 mph)

• Brett Lee (born 8 November 1976) is an Australian former international cricketer ,who played all three formats of the game. Lee was one of the most feared bowlers in cricket during his career. He was known for his extreme pace and accuracy, and his ability to swing the ball both ways.
• During his international career, Lee was recognized as one of the fastest bowler of the world. He was a key member of the Australian team that won three consecutive World Cups in 1999, 2003, and 2007.
• Lee was known for his pace and regularly clocked 140 km/h (87 mph) and above. The strain of consistently bowling at 150 km/h (93 mph) caused a string of stress fractures and recurring injuries and forced him to alter his strategy, which he amassed effectively.
• He took 310 wickets in 76 Test matches , 380 wickets in 221 ODI’s and 28 wickets in 25 T20I’s. Lee represented Australia from 1999-2012 across all the formats . Lee also holds the record for the most number of wickets taken by an Australian fast bowler in One Day Internationals, with 380 wickets to his name.
• His fastest ball was clocked at 160.8 km/h (99.9 mph) against New Zealand in 2005 .

2. SHAUN TAIT (AUSTRALIA) – 161.1 km/hr (100.1 mph)

• Shaun William Tait (born 22 February 1983) is a former Australian professional cricketer . He played as a right arm fast bowler and represented Australia in all three forms of cricket, but had most success in One Day Internationals . He is known for his fearsome pace and aggressive bowling style.
• Dubbed “The Wild Thing”, during his career Tait was considered one of the fastest bowlers in the world , regularly bowling at speeds up to 155 km/h . During a Twenty20 international match in February 2010 Tait bowled a ball measured at 160.7 km/hr, the fastest ball ever recorded in Australia.
• He took 5 wickets in 3 Test matches , 62 wickets in 35 ODI’s and 28 wickets in 21 T20I’s . Shaun Tait represented Australia from 2005-2016 across all formats .
• The second fastest ball at 161.1km/hr bowled in the history of cricket was bowled by Australia’s Shaun Tait against England at Lords in 2010. 
• Despite his impressive bowling performances, Tait struggled with injuries throughout his career, which led to his early retirement from international cricket in 2017. Nevertheless, he remains one of the fast bowler of the world to have played the game and his records and achievements continue to inspire young cricketers around the world.

1. SHOAIB AKHTAR (PAKISTAN) – 161.3 km/hr (100.2 mph)

• Shoaib Akhtar (born 13 August 1975) is a Pakistani former cricketer who is the world’s fastest bowler in cricket history . He is known for his raw pace, aggression, and ability to intimidate batsmen with his sheer pace. He tops our list of TOP 10 FASTEST BOWLERS IN CRICKET HISTORY .
• He is the fastest bowler in the history of international cricket having bowled a delivery at 161.3 km/h (100.23 mph), in an ODI against England – a pool match during the 2003 Cricket World Cup . He was also the first bowler to officially break the 100 mph barrier, which he achieved during the 2003 World Cup match against England.
• Akhtar has a nickname “Rawalpindi Express”, in reference to his speed and hometown, and “Tiger”.
• He took 178 wickets in 46 Test matches , 247 wickets in 163 ODI’s and 19 wickets in 15 T20I’s.
• Akhtar is widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time. He was known for his raw pace, ability to swing the ball, and ability to generate reverse swing on flat pitches. His aggressive style of bowling and intimidating demeanor made him a feared bowler, and he was often considered the backbone of the Pakistani bowling attack.

OTHER NOTABLE ‘SPEEDSTERS’

Dale Steyn (sa)

• Dale Steyn is a former South African cricketer widely regarded as one of the fastest bowler of the world in cricket history of all time. Known for his searing pace and aggressive style, Steyn was a formidable force on the international cricket scene, terrorizing batsmen with his ability to generate immense speed and deadly swing.
• Steyn’s career was marked by numerous records and achievements. He was the fastest South African bowler to reach 100 Test wickets, a feat he accomplished in just 20 matches. He also holds the record for the most Test wickets by a South African, with 439 wickets in 93 matches. Steyn’s pace was one of his defining attributes.
• He regularly bowled in excess of 145 km/h, with some of his fastest deliveries reaching speeds of over 155 km/h. His aggressive approach often put batsmen on the back foot, and he was known for his ability to intimidate even the most skilled and experienced opponents.
• His performances also helped South Africa reach the top of the ICC Test rankings, and he played a key role in their success in major tournaments such as the 2007 and 2015 Cricket World Cups.
• In summary, Dale Steyn’s fast speed and aggressive style made him one of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of cricket. His numerous records and achievements are a testament to his exceptional talent and dedication to the sport.

jofra archer (eng)

• Jofra Archer is a highly talented and dynamic cricketer who has made a name for himself in the international cricket arena with his fast bowling speed and remarkable performance. Archer made his international debut for England in 2019 and has since become one of the most promising fast bowlers in the world.
• Archer is known for his exceptional pace and accuracy in bowling. He can consistently bowl over 90 mph and has often clocked speeds of up to 100 mph, making him a lethal weapon for any bowling attack.
• In his short international career so far, Archer has already broken several records. In the 2019 World Cup, he bowled the super over that helped England win their first-ever World Cup title. He also became the first bowler in history to bowl the super over in a World Cup final. He has also recorded some of the fastest deliveries in international cricket, including a delivery of 96.1 mph during the 2019 Ashes series .
• He is widely regarded as one of the most promising talents in world cricket and is expected to have a long and successful career ahead of him.

umran malik (ind)

• Umran Malik is a young Indian fast bowler who has been making waves in the cricketing world with his impressive pace and raw talent. Born in Jammu and Kashmir, Umran has been honing his skills as a fast bowler since a young age and has now become one of the most exciting prospects in Indian cricket.
• His pace and ability to generate swing make him a dangerous bowler for any batsman to face. He also possesses a smooth run-up, a high-arm action, and a quick release, which add to his potency as a fast bowler.
• Umran now owns the record for the fastest delivery by an Indian in T20Is, ODIs and in the IPL as well. His fastest delivery in T20Is and ODIs are of 155kmph and 156kmph, which he recorded against Sri Lanka. His fastest delivery was in the IPL, when he touched 157kph in a match against Mumbai Indians.
• Umran’s ability to bowl at such a high pace has earned him comparisons with some of the great fast bowlers of all time. He has drawn comparisons with the likes of Shoaib Akhtar and Brett Lee for his raw pace and aggressive style of bowling. However, Umran is still young and has a long way to go in terms of developing his skills and becoming a consistent performer.

lockie ferguson (nz)

• Lockie Ferguson, the right-arm fast bowler from New Zealand, is known for his lightning-fast pace and has been a vital asset to the Kiwi team. Ferguson’s speed and control of the ball are commendable, and his consistent performances have helped him achieve significant milestones in international cricket.
• Ferguson is one of the fastest bowlers in the world, and his top speed of 154 km/h in International cricket is a testament to his raw pace. He has also bowled the fastest ball in the 2022 IPL, clocking 157.3 km/h during the final match against Rajasthan Royals.
• Ferguson made his debut for New Zealand in 2016 and has since played in numerous matches, with remarkable performances in World Cup 2019. In his 44 ODIs, he has taken 77 wickets at an impressive average of 28.71. His remarkable spell of 5-21 in a match against the West Indies in 2017 is one of the best bowling figures by a New Zealand fast bowler in ODIs.
• Ferguson has also impressed in T20 cricket, where his unique slower balls and yorkers have earned him praise from fans and cricket experts. He has taken 39 wickets in 26 T20Is at an average of 17.30.
• Overall, Lockie Ferguson’s impressive bowling skills and raw pace make him a force to be reckoned with in international cricket. He is a valuable asset to the New Zealand team and has undoubtedly made his mark in the world of cricket with his exceptional bowling performances.

CONCLUSION

Since , Shoaib Akhtar has the highest average speed in world cricket and also bowled the fastest ball in cricket history , therefore Shoaib Akhtar is the World’s fastest bowler in cricket history . And below is the detailed list of TOP 10 world’s fastest bowler in cricket history and fastest balls bowled by them:

QUESTION OF THE DAY: WHO IS  YOUR FAVOURIE FAST BOWLER IN THE WORLD ?

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. Who is Fastest Bowler of the World in the history of cricket?

• Frankly , there is no such official announcement or award given to any particular fast bowler in the world for his speed . But Shoaib Akhtar (Pakistan) has always been considered the world’s fastest bowler in cricket history because of consistency in his ruthless speed across all formats for so many years .
• His average speed always clocked above 145 km/hr throughout his career from 1997 – 2011. He was also known as Rawalpindi Express due to his express speed . He was also the first bowler to be recorded bowling at 100 miles per hour and did so twice in his career.
• Shoaib Akhtar also bowled the fastest ball ever recorded officially in cricket . He bowled a delivery at 161.3 km/h (100.23 mph), in an ODI against England . As of Janauary 2022 , there has not been any other bowler who has broken his record in international cricket .

2. Who is the No 1 Bowler in the World Cricket History of T20I’s , ODI’s and Tests ?

Different people have different definitions of the No. 1 bowler in the world cricket . But one of the most common , simplest and logical way to rank all the bowlers is to look at the numbers . Like batters are judged on the basis of their runs scored . Similarly , the bowlers have always been judged on the amount of wickets taken by them . Therefore , No. 1 bowler in the cricket history in all formats as per the total wickets taken by them is :

Muttiah Muralitharan in Test and ODI cricket

• Murali (Born 17 April 1972 Kandy, Ceylon) is a former Sri Lankan cricket player , who is regarded as one of the greatest and most successful bowlers ever to play international cricket. His role was of a right-arm off break bowler , which he played very successfully throughout his long career of 19 years from 1992 – 2011 .
• He is the only bowler to take 800 test wickets and 530+ (534) ODI wickets. He also took 13 wickets in T20I’s .
• As of January 2022 , he has taken more wickets in international cricket than any other bowler. That is why he can be considered the no. 1 bowler in the world in Test as well as ODI cricket .

Shakib Al Hasan in T20I cricket

• Shakib Al Hasan  (born 24 March 1987), is a Bangladeshi international cricketer. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest all-rounders of all time . He has been serving as the backbone of Bangladesh Cricket team from the year 2006 .
• Shakib is a left-handed middle order batsman and left-arm off-spin bowler. Shakib became the first and only cricketer in history to be ranked the ‘No.1 all-rounder’ by ICC in its Player Rankings in all three formats of the game .
• In 59 Test matches , 215 ODI matches and 94 T20I matches , he took 215 , 277 and 117 wickets respectively . As of January 2022 , Shakib’s 117 is the highest number of wickets taken by any individual in T20I cricket history.

3. Who bowled the Fastest Ball in Cricket History ?

OR

What is the speed of the fastest ball bowled by Shoaib Akhtar ever ?

OR

Shoaib Akhtar fastest ball was bowled against which country ?

• Shoaib Akhtar ( Pakistan ) bowled the fastest ball ever recorded officially in cricket . He bowled a delivery at 161.3 km/h (100.23 mph), in an ODI against England – a pool match during the 2003 Cricket World Cup .
• He is the world’s fastest bowler in cricket history .
• As of Janauary 2022 , there has not been any other bowler who has broken his record in international cricket . He was also the first bowler to be recorded bowling at 100 miles per hour and did so twice in his career.

4. What are the different types of cricket bowlers ?

There are two major types of cricket bowlers i.e. Pace/Seam and Spin . Pace bowlers usually with speed and  dismiss batsmen, whereas spin bowlers rely on the rotation and turn of the ball. Further these two categories can be split into numerous and unique kinds :

• Swing is a major component of fast bowling and itself needs a separate mastery to control it. There are some bowlers who specialise either in out-swing or in-swing only . Some bowlers have the ability of swinging the ball both ways .
• Pace/Seam bowlers can be categorized into different groups as per their speed :

• Spin Bowlers can be categorized into the following :

3. Who are the TOP 10 World bowlers including all the formats of Cricket ?

Here is the last of all-time Top 10 wicket-takers in world cricket including all the formats of cricket:

6. Who are the Top 10 Australian fast bowlers in Test Cricket history ?

• The list of World’s fastest bowler in cricket history is clearly dominated by the Australian fast bowlers as half of the pacers are Australians only . This list includes great fast bowlers like :
  • Jeffrey Thompson ( 1972-85 )
  • Brett Lee ( 1999-2012 )
  • Mitchell Johnson ( 2005-2015 )
  • Shaun Tait ( 2005-2016 )
  • Mitchell Starc ( 2010-present )
• But the greatness of a fast bowler is judged by his contribution for the team to win matches and the ability to take wickets rather than just bowling fast . A fast bowler cannot take wickets only with his ruthless speed . It takes a lot more than that . They should have different plans for different batters , accurate line and length etc.
• Like others in the world , the success of a fast bowler too is judged by their numbers i.e. total wickets taken by them . According to this , the list of the top 10 Australian fast bowlers in Test cricket history is as follows :

7. Who scored the fastest 200 in ODI cricket history?

• Chris Gayle, (born 21 September 1979) is a former West Indian cricketer who played international cricket for the West Indies from 1998 to 2021.
• In February 2015, Christopher Henry Gayle became the fourth cricketer to score a double century in ODIs, and the first ever to do so in World Cup history . It was the fifth double century in ODI history .
• He made 215 during a pool game against Zimbabwe in the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup in Canberra on 24th Feb ’15 .
• Gayle is the only player in world cricket to hit a triple hundred in Tests, a double hundred in ODIs and a hundred in Twenty20 Internationals.

LIST OF DOUBLE CENTURIES MADE IN ODI HISTORY

8. Who bowls in cricket and what is meant by the term fast bowling ?

• Cricket is a sport played majorly on the pitch where two wickets are on the opposite ends . Bowler needs to deliver the cricket ball towards the batter who then has to score runs or defend the ball accordingly . Therefore , bowler is the one who bowls in cricket to the batter .
• Bowlers can throw the ball towards the batter in many ways as per their comfort and strengths discussed above .
• One of those ways is fast bowling . In this , a bowler generates the momentum from his long run-up and transfer it to the ball when he reaches the popping crease . This allows him to bowl faster balls to the batter . Whenever a player bowls fast (around 120 -160 kmph) to a batter, it is called fast bowling and he/she is referred as a fast bowler .
• Generally , speed of medium-fast bowlers varies between 120 – 140 kmph . And here comes our FAST bowlers who ranges from 140 – 160 kmph (believe it or not ) .

9. Which bowler is fastest to 100 test wickets in test cricket history ?

GEORGE ALFRED LOHMANN ( Born 2 June 1865 , England ) holds the record for the fastest 100 wickets in Test for the last 126 years . He was a right-handed medium fast bowler who played for England for a decade from 1886 to 1896 .

His 100th wicket came against South Africa at Johannesburg on. He took only 16 matches to accomplish the feat .

LIST OF TOP 4 FASTEST BOWLERS TO 100 TEST WICKETS