Fastest balls: Cricket, a sport played in nearly every country in the world today, originated in England during the 16th century. By the 17th century, it had become a popular pastime in England. Over time, it gradually carved out its own identity worldwide. Nowadays, cricket is one of the most popular sports globally, especially in countries like India, Australia, England, Pakistan, and the West Indies, where its craze reaches a different level.
Players from all these countries have etched their names on the golden pages of cricket history, including many batsmen and bowlers. Among the players who have immortalized their names in the cricket world with their batting skills are Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar. On the other hand, names like Brett Lee, Shoaib Akhtar, and Shaun Tait are included among the bowlers.
In this article today, we are going to learn about those 10 fast bowlers in cricket who have set the record for bowling the fastest deliveries in cricket history, breaking all boundaries.
Fastest balls in cricket history
From the beginning of cricket to the present day, there have been many fast bowlers who have made history with their bowling. Almost all countries have fast bowlers among them. Speaking of the greatest fast bowlers of the past, names like Brett Lee, Shoaib Akhtar, and Shaun Tait come to mind. Whereas in today’s time, bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, Mitchell Starc, and Shaheen Shah Afridi have made it difficult for batsmen to survive.
And among all these bowlers, the selected few have the distinction of being the fastest bowlers in cricket history. The record for bowling the fastest delivery in cricket history belongs to Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar, who clocked a speed of 161.3 km/hr, etching his name in golden letters on the pages of history.
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Record-breaking deliveries of cricket history
Shoaib Akhtar: Former Pakistani cricket stalwart, the express fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar holds the record for bowling the fastest delivery in cricket history. He set this record during the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup, bowling at a speed of 161.3 km/hr. Renowned as the ‘Rawalpindi Express’, Akhtar achieved this feat against England.
Brett Lee: In cricket history, former Australian fast bowler Brett Lee ranks second in terms of bowling the fastest delivery. He achieved this during a match against the New Zealand team in the year 2005, bowling at a speed of 161.1 km/hr, thereby etching his name in the annals of history.
Shaun Tait: In this list, the third position is also held by an Australian fast bowler. And it’s none other than Shaun Tait. The former Australian fast bowler Tait achieved this feat during a match against England in 2010, bowling at a speed of 161.1 km/hr.
Jeff Thomson: The fourth bowler on this list is also Australian. And it’s none other than Jeff Thomson. Known for his lightning-fast deliveries, former Australian fast bowler Thomson achieved this feat during a match against the West Indies in 1975, bowling at a speed of 160.6 km/hr.
Mitchell Starc: In cricket history, the fifth position for bowling the fastest delivery is also held by an Australian fast bowler. And it’s none other than the current team’s most lethal fast bowler, Mitchell Starc, who set this record by bowling at a speed of 160.4 km/hr during a match against New Zealand in 2015.
Andy Roberts: Former West Indies cricket team stalwart fast bowler Andy Roberts holds the sixth position on this list, achieving this feat against Australia in 1975. Known for his deadly bouncers and lightning-fast deliveries, Roberts set this record by bowling at a speed of 159.5 km/hr.
Fidel Edwards: The seventh bowler on this list is also from the West Indies. And it’s none other than Fidel Edwards. He was among the most dangerous bowlers of his time. Edwards achieved this feat during a match against South Africa in 2003, bowling at a speed of 157.7 km/hr.
Mitchell Johnson: Australian cricket history boasts of some of the finest bowlers, and among them is the inclusion of Mitchell Johnson in this list. Known for his pace and swing, Johnson made his mark by bowling at a speed of 156.8 km/hr during a match against England in 2013, earning his place among the top players in the list. And he is 8th in this list.
Mohammad Sami: In cricket history, the 9th position for bowling the fastest delivery is held by the former Pakistan cricket team stalwart fast bowler Mohammad Sami. Known for his masterclass bowling Sami earned his place in the list of fastest bowlers by bowling at a speed of 156.4 km/hr during a match against Zimbabwe in 2003.
Shane Bond: At the tenth position on this list is New Zealand’s lethal fast bowler Shane Bond, renowned for his devastating bowling. He secured his place in this illustrious record list by bowling at a speed of 156.4 km/hr during a match against India in 2003.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Fastest Ball in Cricket
What is the fastest ball in cricket history?
The record for bowling the fastest delivery in cricket history belongs to Shoaib Akhtar, who bowled at a speed of 161.3 km/h. Alongside him in this list are Brett Lee – 161.1 km/h, Shaun Tait – km/h, Jeff Thomson – km/h, and Mitchell Starc – km/h, ranking at positions 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively.
Which is the fastest ball in history?
The fastest bowl in cricket history is delivered by Shoaib Akhtar at a speed of 161.3 km/hr. He bowled this record breaking ball during the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup against England.
Who has the highest bowling speed?
Shoaib Akhtar has the highest bowling speed in cricket history, which is 161.3 km/hr.
Who is the fastest bowler of cricket history?
Former Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar holds the record of fastest bowler in cricket history. He set this record during the 2003 ICC World Cup, bowling at a speed of 161.3 km/hr.
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