In the game of cricket, speed has always been a pivotal factor. The ability to generate great speed not only strikes fear into batters but also determines the outcome of matches. Throughout the years, the cricketing fraternity has witnessed some defining fast bowlers who completely stunned the fans with their pace. As promised, in this article, we provide you an in depth understanding of the world fastest bowler of all time, their record speeds, and how they affected the game overall.
Top 10 World Fastest Bowler List
This is a documented top 10 world fastest bowler list of the ever recorded in professional cricket along with their top speeds:
| Bowlers | Country | Ball Speed | Against | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shoaib Akhtar | Pakistan | 161.3 km/h (100.23 mph) | England | 2003 |
| Brett Lee | Australia | 161.1 km/h (100.1 mph) | New Zealand | 2005 |
| Jeff Thomson | Australia | 160.6 km/h (99.8 mph) | West Indies | 1975 |
| Andy Roberts | West Indies | 159.5 km/h (99.1 mph) | Australia | 1975 |
| Fidel Edwards | West Indies | 157.7 km/h (98.0 mph) | South Africa | 2003 |
| Waqar Younis | Pakistan | 153 km/h (95.07 mph) | South Africa | 1993 |
| Nantie Hayward | South Africa | 154.4 km/h (95.95 mph) | India | 2001 |
| Jason Gillespie | Australia | 153.9 km/h (95.6 mph) | South Africa | 2002 |
| Shaun Tait | Australia | 161.1 km/h (100.1 mph) | England | 2010 |
| Mitchell Starc | Australia | 160.4 km/h (99.7 mph) | New Zealand | 2015 |
World Fastest Bowler in Cricket Details
1. Shoaib Akhtar
Shoaib Akhtar, the most renowned bowler for his speed, has himself a nickname ‘The Rawalpindi Express’ for a reason. He was and still is the fastest boilerman and his delivery speed record of 161.3 km/h (100.23 mph) during his match against England is the fastest to ever be achieved in World Cups. His aggressive style and ability to deliver bouncers made him the worst kind of nightmare for all the well known batters.
2. Brett Lee
Brett Lee’s express pace and ability to precisely deliver the ball made him one of the most dangerous bowlers. His best ball was clocked at 161.1 km/h (100.1 mph) against New Zealand back in 2005, and it certainly proved his worth. Lee was key in Australia’s world dominance in cricket during the 2000s.
3. Jeff Thomson
An extreme pace bowler Jeff Thomson is known as a nightmare for batters during the 70s. Along with Dennis Lillee he made a big name for himself as one of the most dominating bowlers in a game with a fastest ball of 160.6 km/h (99.8 mph).
4. Andy Roberts
He set the bar for future generations of West Indian cricketers as he was one of the first genuine fast bowlers from the regions. He recorded a 159.5 km/h (99.1 mph) rocket against Australia in 1975 which really set the tone as his first delivery. His style of bowling was also quite effective.
5. Fidel Edwards
Fidel Edwards his strongest attribute is his unusual slinging bowling action. Along with regularly maintaining very high speeds such as 157.7 km/h (98.0 mph) against South Africa in 2003 made him one of the fastest bowlers from the caribbean.
6. Waqar Younis
Waqar Younis was a nightmare for batsmen because of his sheer pace combined with his mastery in reverse swing, making him one of Pakistan’s greatest bowlers. His fastest delivery was recorded at 153 km/h (95.07 mph) in 1993.
7. Nantie Hayward
He machine-gunned 154.4 km/h (95.95 mph) against India in 2001, making him one of the fastest South African bowlers. His aggressive style had a tendency to provoke the batsmen, which was usually a recipe for disaster.
8. Jason Gillespie
His speed was recorded at 153.9 km/h (95.6 mph) against South Africa in 2002. Undoubtedly, he made a huge impact in Australia’s golden era of cricket. He was known for his incredible accuracy alongside impressive pace.
9. Shaun Tait
Shaun Tait was known for his unique bowling and ability to bowl with great pace. He matched Brett Lee’s record with a 161.1 km/h (100.1 mph) bowling mark against England in 2010. Even though injuries ended his career too early, Tait’s unmatched speed makes him a mythical figure in the world of cricket.
10. Mitchell Starc
Mitchell Starc is a modern fast bowling phenom who regularly delivers above 150 km/h. He remains one of Australia’s most important players in all formats of the games. The ball he bowled against New Zealand in 2015 highlights his speed and precision. It was delivered at 160.4 km/h (99.7 mph).
Conclusion
We can all agree that fast bowling is not just a sport but one that needs skill, stamina, as well as mental stability. The aforementioned bowlers have made their place in history by recording the fastest balls in cricket. They have redefined the art of fast bowling through the sheer aggression, skill, and speed they possessed. This legacy will inspire the younger generation to break the boundaries of pace in the field of cricket.
Also read:- 6 Ball 6 Six Record List: All Formats 2025
