Top 10 Fastest Bowlers in the world

Glenn McGrath is the highest wicket-taker fast bowler in all formats of cricket. Jimmy Anderson, on the other hand, is the leading wicket-taker fast bowler in the history of test cricket. However, none of these fast bowlers are the fastest bowlers in the world. Who makes it in the list for the top 10 fastest bowlers in the world?

Top 10 Fastest Bowlers in the world
Top 10 Fastest Bowlers in the world

10. Shane Bond (New Zealand)

Shane Bond, who is now the New Zealand cricket team’s head coach, was a right-arm fast bowler. He made his debut in a test match against Australia in 2001. Shane Bond had a huge potential however, he suffered from injuries throughout his career which affected his performance on the pitch. He used to ball regularly over 145 kmph. A combination of pace, accuracy, and consistency made him a lethal fast bowler. Shane Bond bowled his fastest delivery in a ICC World Cup match against India at a speed of 156.4 kmph. This delivery put his name in the list of the top 10 fastest bowlers in the world.

9. Mohammad Sami (Pakistan)

The Pakistani right-arm fast bowler, Mohammad Sami is known for his speed and swing. He has the ability to swing the ball at a high pace, which made him one of the fastest bowlers during his time. Although he once bowled a delivery at a speed of 164 kmph. However, it was ruled out as the officials found faulty measurements in the speed meter. He still ranks ninth in the top 10 fastest bowlers in the world. He has clocked a delivery at 156.4 kmph against Zimbabwe in 2003.

8. Mitchell Johnson (Australia)

Mitchell Johnson is a former Australian left-arm fast bowler. He made his debut in 2007 against Sri Lanka in a test match. Mitchell Johnson is the fifth-highest wicket-taker in Test matches for Australia, ahead of Brett Lee. He is also the third-highest wicket-taking left-arm bowler in the world, only behind Wasim Akram (Pakistan) and Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka). Mitchell Johnson bowled his record-breaking fast delivery against England in 2013. He clocked 156.8 kmph.

7. Fidel Edwards (West Indies)

Fidel Edwards made his debut for West Indies in 2003 against Sri Lanka in a Test match. He picked up five wickets in his debut against the Lankans. Fidel Edwards again impressed everyone in his One Day International debut against Zimbabwe, taking his best career figure of 6/22. He is the second player in the history of cricket to take a five-wicket haul in both Test and ODI debut. He bowled his fastest delivery against South Africa, where he clocked the speed of 157.7 kmph. This delivery ranks him seventh in the top 10 fastest bowlers in the world. He is also the second-fastest bowler in West Indies.

6. Andy Roberts (West Indies)

The former West Indian and the second oldest player in the top 10 fastest bowlers in the world list, Andy Roberts. Currently 69 years old, bowled his fastest delivery that clocked 159.5 kmph against Australia in 1975. He played his career from 1974 to 1983 in which he took 289 wickets in Test and ODI cricket. Andy Roberts was also part of the team that won the first ever cricket world cup in 1975 and also in 1979. He is also the fastest West Indian bowler in the history West Indies cricket.

5. Mitchell Starc (Australia)

Mitchell Starc is another left-arm fast-bowler amongst the top 10 fastest bowlers in the world. He made his debut against India in a One Day International match in 2010. Mitchell Starc holds many records, out of which, his 27 wickets in a single World Cup campaign remains memorable for him. Starc is known for his lethal pace, in-swing yorkers, and reverse swing. He holds the record of the second-fastest delivery in the Test cricket and fifth in all formats. He bowled his fastest ball against New Zealand clocking a speed of 160.4 kmph.

4. Jeff Thomson (Australia)

Australia’s legendary bowler Jeff Thomson, who is also the oldest in our top 10 fastest bowlers in the world list. Making his debut in 1972, Jeff Thomson played 101 matches for Australia in Test and ODI. In which, he picked up 255 wickets. However, he is known for his fast bowling. He bowed at a speed of 160.6 kmph against the West Indies in 1975. This was a record that wasn’t broken for many years. It is still astonishing that even with a slow run-up compared to other legendary bowlers like Andy Roberts, Micheal Holding, and Dennis Lillee, he was able to bowl at a speed over 160 kmph.

3. Shaun Tait (Australia)

Shaun Tait is the fourth Australian bowler in the top 10 fastest bowlers in the world list, and yet still not the fastest Australian bowler. He made his debut in 2005 against England in the Ashes series. However, he struggled with injuries throughout his career and could only play three Test matches. In his 38 matches for Australia, Shaun Tait bowled the joint-fastest delivery in the history of cricket. He bowled at a speed of 161.1 kmph against England in 2011.

2. Brett Lee (Australia)

The joint fastest Australian bowler and also joint second-fastest bowler in the history of cricket, Brett Lee. He is not only the fastest bowler but also amongst the great bowlers in the world. Brett Lee has played 322 matches for Australia, in which he has picked up 718 wickets. He ranks 12th in the all-time leading wicket-takers list. Brett Lee was also one of the important players in the Australian squad when they triumphed the 2003 and 2007 ICC Cricket World Cups. His fastest delivery was clocked 161.1 kmph against New Zealand in 2005.

1. Shoaib Akthar (Pakistan)

The top in the list of the top 10 fastest bowlers in the world, Shoaib Akhtar. The right-arm fast bowler from Pakistan clocked the speed 161.3 kmph in 2003 against England. This record is yet to be broken. Shoaib Akhtar is popularly known as Rawalpindi Express. He made his debut for Pakistan in 1997 in a Test match against West Indies. Shoaib Akhtar has picked up 444 wickets for Pakistan in all formats of cricket. He is one of the best bowlers in the history of cricket and amongst very few who could bowl at a constant speed.

 

Leave a Comment