Fast bowlers are always delightful to watch in cricket. They are someone who can be effective everywhere if use their wit and skills. Especially, the pacers who have got extra pace in their armory are always hazardous to play as batsmen get very little time to play shots against raw pace bowling. There have been very few bowlers in the world who could ball fast consistently, let’s have a look at the fastest bowlers in international cricket.
Fastest Bowlers in International cricket
Here is the informative list top 10 fastest bowlers in international cricket history –
Shoaib Akhtar
Shoaib Akhtar, the Rawalpindi Express from Pakistan is the fastest bowler in the history of international cricket. He is someone who continuously bowled at an average pace of 150 throughout his career. Akhtar clocked the fastest ever speed in cricket history against England in the 2003 World Cup, 161.3 km/hr. Marcus Trescothick was batting and Akhtar bowled a short pitch delivery, which the batsman flicked towards midwicket. The Pakistani stalwart ended his career with 444 wickets in 224 matches.
Shaun Tait
Former Aussie fast bowler Shaun Tait gets 2nd place when we talk about the fastest bowlers in cricket. With his round arm action, Tait was injury-prone. But he was someone who could make the batsmen understand how lately they played the ball due to his lightning pace. He bowled a delivery of 161.1 km/hr at Lords to English wicket-keeper Craig Kieswetter. Tait scalped 95 wickets in 59 matches in his 11 years career (2005-16).
Brett Lee
Another Australian on the list of the fastest bowler in international cricket is Brett Lee, who was as quick as flash. Lee used to steam in at an average speed of 150 and rattle the batsman with his good length delivery, yorkers, and bouncers. Lee produced his fastest delivery against New Zealand in 2005 in Napier, which was 160.8 km/hr. Kiwi opener Craig Cumming faced the flashy yorker. Lee has grabbed the 2nd most wickets for Australia, 718 wickets in 322 internationals.
Jeff Thomson
One of the greatest bowlers of all time, Jeff Thomson comes in 4th place in terms of the fastest bowlers in cricket. How scary Thomson was only the likes of Sunil Gavaskar, Javed Miandad, Viv Richards know. Thomson used to target the batsman with each delivery. His fastest ball came against West Indies in 1975 in Perth, 160.6 km/hr. The terrifying fast bowler bagged 255 wickets in 101 international games (1972-85).
Mitchell Starc
The fastest bowler of the modern era Mitchell Starc has made it to the list. Starc is someone who can swing the ball with over 150 km/hr pace. His inswing yorkers are insane, can send any batsman to the pavilion. The left-arm fast bowler bowled his quickest delivery against New Zealand in 2015 in a test match, Ross Taylor was batting and he hurled a 160.4 km/hr yorker which Taylor managed to defense. Starc bagged the Man of the Tournament award in the 2015 World Cup. Australia’s 4th World Cup crown.
Andy Roberts
The West Indies of the 70s was prominent for producing vicious fast bowlers. Every batsman was scared of Robert’s aggressive bowling. In a match against Australia in 1975, he recorded 159.5 km/hr. Roberts would bowl jaw-breaking bouncers. Roberts was a part of the West Indies team which won the 1975 and 1979 World Cup.
Fidel Edwards
Fidel Edward is a name who made his name in the race of the fastest bowlers in the era of bowlers like Akhtar, Lee, and Tait. Having played 131 matches for West Indies, he has got 245 wickets so far. The Barbadian player bowled his quickest ball 157.7 against South Africa in 2003.
Mitchell Johnson
One of the most aggressive bowlers the world has ever seen, Mitchell Johnson would spit fire on the ground. He is someone who never liked to lose any match. He was in sublime form in the 2013 Ashes series, he clocked 156.8 km/hr in the 4th match of the series. Johnson has taken 590 wickets in 256 matches in his 10 years of a fruitful career. He was a part of the Australian side which won the 2015 World Cup.
Mohammad Sami
Pakistan’s one of the quickest bowlers, Mohammad Sami has also secured a place on the list of fastest bowlers in international cricket. Sami had a career of 15 years but he was on and off in the side. He bowled his brisket ball 156.4 km/hr against Zimbabwe in 2003 in a One Day International match in Dubai.
Shane Bond
The quickest kiwi player Shane Bond’s name in this article is inevitable as he used to ball like a canon. Bond represented New Zealand from 2001 to 2010 in 18 tests, 82 ODIs, and 20 T20Is, grabbing 87, 147, and 25 wickets apiece. His fastest delivery (156.4) came against India in the 2003 World Cup. Injuries prevented him to become one of the greats of the game.
| Player | Speed (KM) | Against | Year |
| Shoaib Akhtar | 161.3 | England | 2003 |
| Shaun Tait | 161.1 | England | 2010 |
| Brett Lee | 160.8 | New Zealand | 2005 |
| Jeff Thomson | 160.6 | West Indies | 1975 |
| Mitchell Starc | 160.4 | New Zealand | 2015 |
| Andy Roberts | 159.5 | Australia | 1975 |
| Fidel Edwards | 157.7 | South Africa | 2003 |
| Mitchell Johnson | 156.8 | England | 2013 |
| Mohammad Sami | 156.4 | Zimbabwe | 2003 |
| Shane Bond | 156.4 | India | 2003 |
Shoaib Akhtar had fastest ever speed in cricket history against England in the 2003 World Cup, 161.3 km/hr.
I’m Akash Saha, Chief Cricket News Editor at Skyblogs Cricket with more than 10 years of experience in the Cricket Sports industry. I’m also a district level cricketer from West Bengal and represented multiple clubs within our state. I’m also a 2nd division player member of Kolkata’s oldest and renowned club CCFC where I have also played multiple Kolkata club cricket tournaments.
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