Records & stats

Top 10 Fastest Balls Ever Bowled in Cricket History

by
Bishal
July 22, 2024

Cricket, a game of skill and strategy, has always been thrilling, but some moments leave us awestruck! The fastest balls ever bowled in cricket history are a testament to the pace bowlers’ incredible talent and hard work. Let’s dive into the top 10 fastest deliveries that have left batsmen stunned and fans amazed!

10. Shane Bond – 156.4 km/h (97.18 mph)

Shane Bond, a famous New Zealand fast bowler, was known for his very fast and accurate bowling. He threw the ninth-fastest ball ever in cricket, reaching an impressive speed of 156.4 km/h (97.26 mph) in a game against India in 2003.

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9. Mohd. Sami – 156.4 km/h (97.18 mph)

Mohammad Sami is famous for his fast bowling and quick arm action. He’s one of the fastest bowlers in cricket and once threw a ball at 164 km/h (101.9 mph) in a One Day International match, which is the fastest ever recorded.

8. Mitchell Johnson – 156.8 km/h (97.49 mph)

Mitchell Johnson, famous in Australian cricket, was known for his fast left-arm bowling and swinging deliveries. He bowled the eighth-fastest ball in cricket history at 156.8 km/h (97.49 mph) against England in 2013.

7. Fidel Edwards – 157.7 km/h (97.94 mph)

Fidel Edwards, known for his fast and accurate bowling, threw the seventh-fastest ball in cricket history at 157.7 km/h (97.94 mph) during a 2003 match against South Africa. This performance made him one of the fastest bowlers from the West Indies.

6. Andy Roberts – 159.5 km/h (99.12 mph)

Andy Roberts, known for his dangerous bouncers and very fast bowling, was one of the quickest bowlers of his time. In 1975, he bowled the sixth-fastest ball ever recorded in cricket, reaching 159.5 km/h (99.12 mph) in a game against Australia.

5. Mitchell Starc – 160.4 km/h (99.57 mph)

Mitchell Starc, an Australian fast bowler known for his fast left-arm deliveries, threw the fifth-fastest ball ever recorded in cricket at 160.4 km/h (99.57 mph) during a 2015 match against New Zealand. This performance showed he is a top player in modern cricket.

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4. Jeff Thomson – 160.6 km/h (99.66 mph)

Jeff Thomson, famous for his super-fast and aggressive bowling, bowled the fourth-fastest ball ever recorded in cricket at 160.6 km/h (99.66 mph) during a 1975 match against the West Indies.

3. Brett Lee – 161.1 km/h (100.14 mph)

Australian fast bowler Brett Lee was known for his aggressive style and incredible speed. In a 2005 game against New Zealand, he bowled the second-fastest ball ever recorded in cricket, reaching 161.1 km/h (100.14 mph).

2. Shaun Tait – 161.1 km/h (100.14 mph)

Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait was famous for his incredibly fast and accurate deliveries. In a 2010 match against England, he bowled the third-fastest ball ever recorded in cricket, reaching 161.1 km/h (100.14 mph).

1. Shoaib Akhtar – 161.3 km/h (100.23 mph)

Shoaib Akhtar, also known as the ‘Rawalpindi Express,’ is the fastest bowler in cricket history. He reached a speed of 161.3 km/h (100.23 mph) during the 2003 ICC World Cup. Famous for his incredible speed, he was known for making top batsmen nervous with his fast deliveries.

Take a look at the 10 Fastest Balls Ever Bowled in Cricket History

Bowler	Speed (km/hr)	Speed (mph)	Country	Opponent	Year
Shoaib Akhtar	161.3	100.2	Pakistan	England	2003
Shaun Tait	161.1	100.1	Australia	England	2010
Brett Lee	161.1	100.1	Australia	New Zealand	2005
Jeffrey Thomson	160.6	99.8	Australia	West Indies	1975
Mitchell Starc	160.4	99.7	Australia	New Zealand	2015
Andy Roberts	159.5	99.1	West Indies	Australia	1975
Fidel Edwards	157.7	97.9	West Indies	South Africa	2003
Mitchell Johnson	156.8	97.4	Australia	England	2013
Mohd. Sami	156.4	97.1	Pakistan	Zimbabwe	2003
Shane Bond	156.4	97.1	New Zealand	India	2003