Top 10 Fastest Ball in Cricket History
Shoaib Akhtar breaks the 161 kmph/hr barrier for the first time [Source: Twitter]
Cricket is primarily a batter-dominated game, however, fans and critics love the sight of a fast bowler uprooting the stumps at sheer pace, even more than watching the ball fly high into the stands. Legends like Jeff Thompson, Denis Lillee, and Andy Roberts paved the way for the likes of Allan Donald, Shoaib Akhtar, Brett Lee, Shane Bond, Shaun Tait, and Dale Steyn to unleash their talent in the international arena.
These stalwarts, in turn, have inspired the likes of Mitchell Starc, Haris Rauf, Umran Malik, Lockie Ferguson, Mark Wood, and Jofra Archer to carry forward their pace bowling legacy and their need for speed and thrill alive.
Let's have a read into the top 10 fastest balls ever bowled (recorded) in the history of cricket since its inception in 1709.
1.Shoaib Akhtar - 161.3 km/hr
The undisputed king of speed became the first bowler to breach the 161-km/hr barrier. Shoaib Akhtar bettered his own record during the ICC World Cup 2003 against England, registering a 161.3 km/hr delivery to opener Nick Knight.
The Rawalpindi Express showed no signs of slowing down as his bowling speed gradually increased from 153.3 to 161.3, etching his name in the history books forever.
Akhtar also bowled 161 and 160 km/hr deliveries against New Zealand in a 2003 ODI.
2.Shaun Tait - 161.1 km/hr
The Australian pacer created history against England in 2010, to become the third bowler after Akhtar and Lee to go past 161 km/hr.
Tait rattled opener Craig Kieswetter in his first over to hit 161.1 km/hr. He claimed three more wickets to hand Australia a comfortable win.
Tait to name also has the record for the fastest-ever ball in IPL history , which came in 2011 with Rajasthan Royals.
3.Brett Lee - 161.1 km/hr
Tait's senior in the side, Brett Lee became the first Australian to clock a speed of 161.1. Lee terrorised batters with his pace and achieved this record against arch-rivals New Zealand in 2005.
The former KKR player bowled his fastest-ever delivery to Craig Cummins in the Napier ODI and went on to become one of the best in the world.
4.Jeff Thompson - 160.6 km/hr
An inspiration to many on this list, Thomson broke the 160+ barrier back in 1975 against West Indies. The Australian speedster bowled a 160.6 km/hr delivery against the West Indies in Perth.
5.Mitchell Starc - 160.4 km/hr
Mitchell Starc is the fifth and latest bowler to surpass 160 km/hr. Starc achieved his record against New Zealand in a Test match, unlike others who did this in limited-overs cricket.
A yorker to Ross Taylor outside off stump clocked 160.4 on Day 3 of the Test and is to date the fatest in red-ball cricket.
6.Andy Roberts - 159.5 km/hr
Andy Roberts tormented batters in the late 1970s with his speed and gained a reputation for being one of the most feared bowlers. Roberts narrowly missed the 160 km/hr mark but managed to achieve a career-best of 159.5 km/hr against Australia back in 1975.
7.Fidel Edwards - 157.7 km/hr
West Indies' tearaway pacer Fidel Edwards gained instant success achieving speeds of 155 and excess consistently. Edwards' fastest ball came against South Africa, where he recorded a 157.7 km/hr delivery.
8.Lockie Ferguson - 157.3 km/hr
Lockie Ferguson (Twitter)
New Zealand speedster Lockie Ferguson knocked over the 157-mark in an Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter for Gujarat Titans.
Ferguson's 157.3 thunderbolt came in the IPL 2022 final against the Rajasthan Royals, with Jos Buttler on strike.
9.Umran Malik - 157 km/hr
Umran Malik (Twitter)
India's fastest bowler ever, Umran Malik hit the 157-speed barrier in the 2022 edition of the IPL while playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad. Malik bowled one of the fastest-overs in IPL history, reaching a high of 157 km/hr on the fifth ball, breaking his own record of 156 from the fourth ball.
10.Mitchell Johnson - 156.8 km/hr
Mitchell Johnson scared the England batters in the 2013-14 Ashes series, to pick 37 wickets for Australia. In the customary Boxing Day Test, Johnson clocked a personal best of 156.8 on Day 3, etching his name in the record books.
 "Vishal Mehra")
