Vishal P In the cricket world, bowlers have owned their era in cricket history with their deliveries. Cricket fans have witnessed some lightning-fast bowlers who have sent shivers down the spines of batsmen with their sheer spells.
From fiery deliveries touching 160 km/h to legendary speedsters dominating the game, the thrill of watching the top 10 fastest bowlers in cricket history remains unmatched.
If you are a cricket enthusiast and eager to know the Top 10 Fastest Bowlers in the World, then this guide will explore the list of elite fastest bowlers who have set the benchmark for express pace deliveries.
Dive into discovering the ultimate speed kings of cricket who have left their mark with raw aggression and lightning-fast speed.
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The Top 10 Fastest Bowlers in the World of Cricket
Here we have compiled a list of the top 10 fastest bowlers in cricket history.
| Rank | Bowler | Ball Speed | Country |
| 1. | Shoaib Akhtar | 161.3 km/hr | Pakistan |
| 2. | Shaun Tait | 161.1 km/hr | Australia |
| 3. | Brett Lee | 161.1 km/hr | Australia |
| 4. | Jeffrey Thomson | 160.6 km/hr | Australia |
| 5. | Mitchell Starc | 160.4 km/hr | Australia |
| 6. | Andy Roberts | 159.5 km/hr | West Indies |
| 7. | Fidel Edwards | 157.7 km/hr | West Indies |
| 8. | Umran Malik | 157 km/hr | India |
| 9. | Mitchell Johnson | 156.8 km/hr | Australia |
| 10. | Mayank Yadav | 156.7 km/hr | India |
List of Fastest Bowlers in the World Of Cricket
1. Shoaib Akhtar (Pakistan)
Shoaib Akhtar formerly known as the Rawalpindi Express due to his brilliance in the game of cricket. He ranked first in the list of the top 10 fastest bowlers in the world of cricket due to his lightening fast-delivery at a fiery speed of 161.3 Km/h against the batsman Nick Knight, which holds the indelible mark in the history of world cricket.
He clinched 178 wickets in test cricket and 247 wickets in his ODI cricket during his cricket career between 1997 and 2011.
2. Shaun Tait (Australia)
Shaun Tait from Australia is the second fastest bowler in the list of the top 10 fastest bowlers in cricket. He is mostly known for his first spells in cricket who made batsmen hop with his sheer pace deliveries.
Throughout his whole blowing career in cricket, he consistently delivered fast deliveries, at one point he reached one of the fastest deliveries with 161.1 Km/h in his career during a match against England.
In his ODI career between 2005 to 2016 he took 62 wickets. He has also contributed in the Australian Team’s win in the 2007 World Cup.
3. Brett Lee (Australia)
One of the most popular bowlers from Australia Brett Lee, ranked third on the list of the top 10 fastest bowlers who is also known as the nightmare of batsmen in cricket.
He bowled his fastest delivery against New Zealand in 2005, where he showcased his sheer pace and aggression. Brett Lee played a crucial role in Australia’s World Cup victories in 2003 and 2007 leaving an indelible mark in cricket history.
He dominates the game of cricket with 310 wickets in test cricket and 280 in ODI cricket. He bowled his fastest delivery with a stunning speed of 161.1 Km/h.
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4. Jeffrey Thomson (Australia)
Australia seems to have a knack for bringing fast bowlers, Jeff Thomson is among them. He stands fourth in the list because he bowled a ultra-fast delivery at a speed of 160.6 Km/h against the West Indies in Perth in 1975.
He is one of the most feared bowlers for the opponent team during his time in cricket. He took 200 wickets in tests and 55 in ODI cricket during his career between 1972 to 1985.
Besides this, he took 675 wickets in first-class cricket for Middlesex and New South Wales.
5. Mitchell Starc (Australia)
Mitchell Starc, the left-arm pacer continued the legacy of Australia’s fast bowling trading with his fiery spell in cricket history. He bowled his fastest delivery clocking at a speed of 160.4 Km/h, showcasing his ability to dominate the batsmen with his pace and swing.
He has scalped 244 wickets in tests, 178 in ODI, and 43 in T20I Cricket. He also helped Australia in lifting the 2015 Cricket World Cup.
6. Andy Roberts (West Indies)
Andy Roberts is a West Indies fast bowler maestro who kept batsmen on their toes. He dominates the batsmen in the world of cricket with his fiery bouncers of a clocking speed of 159.5 Km/h.
His 202 wickets in Tests and 87 wickets in ODI, his exceptional skills in his bowling make him a true legend of West Indies cricket.
7. Fidel Edwards (West Indies)
Fidel Edwards is another demon with a fast and sheer pace, showcasing his raw pace and stunning faster deliveries against the batsmen. He bowled a faster delivery with a clocking speed of 157.7 Km/h against South Africa in 2003.
During his bowling career, he scalped 165 test wickets and 60 ODI wickets, leaving a lasting impact with his express pace.
8. Umran Malik (India)
Umran Malik, the bowler from Jammu & Kashmir is a beast. He made his impact during 2022 Indian Premier League, consistently hitting faster deliveries over 150 Km/h.
He bowled one of his faster deliveries in his career against Delhi Capitals during a match in 2022 with a clocking speed of 157 Km/h, making him India’s fastest bowler.
9. Mitchell Johnson (Australia)
Mitchell Johnson is a genuine fast-bowling great from Australia, his fast and furious deliveries dominate any batsmen in the world of cricket. His faster delivery comes against England in 2013, where he bowled a stunning lightning-fast delivery with a speed of 156.8 Km/h.
Johnson took 313 test wickets and 239 wickets in ODIs and 38 in T20Is. With a prolific career in bowling, he also smashed 11 fifties in his test career, showcasing his talent in batting too.
10. Mayank Yadav (India)
Mayank Yadav stood last in the list of the Top 10 fastest bowlers in the world, another monstrous pacer from India who bowled his faster delivery with a sheer pace of 156.7 Km/h in IPL.
He is currently the second faster bowler after Umran Malik. He showcased his immense talent for fast bowling in the Indian Premier League in 2024, bowling his faster guns and dominating batsmen.
Last Verdict
Fast bowling has always been a spectacle in cricket, from the raw pace of Shoaib Akhtar to the precision of Mitchell Johnson. These stunning speedsters left an indelible mark in the world of cricket inspiring future generations.
As we witnessed the rise of young talents with stunning speed like Umran Malik and Mayank Yadav, the legacy of fast bowling continues to evolve. The excitement of watching these top 10 fastest bowlers in the world, reminds us that speed remains one of the cricket’s most electrifying elements.
