Top 10 Fastest Balls in Cricket History
Cricket captivates millions with its blend of skill, tactics, and thrill. Fast bowling, in particular, electrifies fans as bowlers sprint in and hurl the ball at jaw-dropping speeds, creating unforgettable moments on the pitch.
Speed merchants, often referred to as pace maestros, ignite the match with their raw velocity and pinpoint precision. Mastering such speed demands immense talent and years of gruelling practice. So, who stands as the fastest bowler in cricket?
Top 10 Fastest Balls in International Cricket
You’ll find plenty of articles on Google, but none of them mention the batter who faced the delivery or the venue. That’s why our CricketBetPro experts have compiled this list with both details included. Take a look at these fascinating stats –
| Rank | Bowler | Ball Speed km/hr (mph) | Against | Year | Batter Faced | Venue |
| 1 | Shoaib Akhtar (Pakistan) | 161.3 km/hr (100.2 mph) | England | 2003 | Nick Knight | Newlands, Cape Town |
| 2 | Shaun Tait (Australia) | 161.1 km/hr (100.1 mph) | England | 2010 | Craig Kieswetter | Lord’s, London |
| 3 | Brett Lee (Australia) | 161.1 km/hr (100.1 mph) | New Zealand | 2005 | Craig Cumming | McLean Park, Napier |
| 4 | Jeffrey Thomson (Australia) | 160.6 km/hr (99.8 mph) | West Indies | 1975 | Roy Fredericks | WACA, Perth |
| 5 | Mitchell Starc (Australia) | 160.4 km/hr (99.7 mph) | New Zealand | 2015 | Ross Taylor | WACA, Perth |
| 6 | Andy Roberts (West Indies) | 159.5 km/hr (99.1 mph) | Australia | 1975 | Ian Chappell | Gabba, Brisbane |
| 7 | Fidel Edwards (West Indies) | 157.7 km/hr (97.9 mph) | South Africa | 2003 | Jacques Kallis | Centurion |
| 8 | Mitchell Johnson (Australia) | 156.8 km/hr (97.4 mph) | England | 2013 | Joe Root | MCG, Melbourne |
| 9 | Mohammad Sami (Pakistan) | 156.4 km/hr (97.1 mph) | Zimbabwe | 2003 | Stuart Carlisle | Harare Sports Club |
| 10 | Shane Bond (New Zealand) | 156.4 km/hr (97.1 mph) | India | 2003 | Rahul Dravid | Centurion |
Shoaib Akhtar: The Speedster
Shoaib Akhtar from Pakistan unleashed the quickest delivery ever recorded in cricket, clocking 161.3 km/h (100.23 mph) against England in the 2003 ICC World Cup. This historic ball cemented his reputation as a powerhouse of speed and intensity, earning him the title of the world’s fastest bowler, also known as the “Rawalpindi Express”. Close behind, Australia’s Shaun Tait and Brett Lee each hit 161.1 km/h, securing their places among cricket’s speed kings.
Over the decades, bowlers like Pakistan’s Waqar Younis, Australia’s Brett Lee, South Africa’s Allan Donald, and Australia’s Shaun Tait consistently rattled batsmen with their searing speed and accuracy.
Today, stars like Australia’s Mitchell Starc, New Zealand’s Lockie Ferguson, South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada, India’s Jasprit Bumrah, and England’s Jofra Archer keep the tradition alive, delivering express pace that challenges the world’s best batsmen.
Top 10 Fastest Balls by Indians ( Overa-all)
| Rank | Bowler | Ball Speed km/hr (mph) | Against | Year | Batter Faced | Venue |
| 1 | Umran Malik (SRH) | 157 km/hr | DC | 2022 | Rovman Powell | Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai |
| 2 | Mayank Yadav (LSG) | 156.7 km/hr | RCB | 2024 | Cameron Green | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| 3 | Irfan Pathan (India) | 153.7 km/hr | Pakistan | 2007 | Mohammad Yousuf | Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg |
| 4 | Mohammed Shami (India) | 153.3 km/hr | Australia | 2014 | Glenn Maxwell | Adelaide Oval, Australia |
| 5 | Jasprit Bumrah (India) | 153.26 km/hr | Australia | 2018 | Aaron Finch | Adelaide Oval, Australia |
| 6 | Varun Aaron (India) | 152.5 km/hr | Sri Lanka | 2014 | Mahela Jayawardene | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| 7 | Umesh Yadav (India) | 152.2 km/hr | Sri Lanka | 2012 | Tillakaratne Dilshan | Hobart, Australia |
| 8 | Navdeep Saini (India) | 152.0 km/hr | West Indies | 2019 | Shimron Hetmyer | Providence Stadium, Guyana |
| 9 | Ashish Nehra (India) | 149.7 km/hr | Zimbabwe | 2003 | Tatenda Taibu | Harare Sports Club |
| 10 | Ishant Sharma (India) | 149.4 km/hr | Australia | 2011 | Ricky Ponting | WACA, Perth |
FAQs
1. Who holds the record for the fastest delivery in cricket history?
Shoaib Akhtar holds the fastest delivery record.
2. Which bowlers nearly matched Shoaib Akhtar’s fastest delivery?
Shaun Tait and Brett Lee are nearly matched the Akhtar’s record.
3. What is the fastest delivery by an Indian bowler?
Umran Malik bowled the fastest Indian delivery.
4. Which venues hosted cricket’s fastest deliveries?
Newlands, Lord’s, McLean Park, WACA, Gabba, Centurion, MCG, Harare are the venues hosted the fastest deliveries.
5. Who are today’s fastest bowlers in cricket?
Starc, Ferguson, Rabada, Bumrah, and Archer.
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