The sight of a fast bowler dislodging a batsman’s stumps is one to behold. Fast bowlers are the speedsters of cricket. Their explosive deliveries pose a constant threat to batsmen. But it is not easy being a fast bowler.
Their ferocious pace comes at a cost. Fast bowlers are quite injury-prone due to the immense strain placed on their bodies with every delivery. Their bowling action requires exceptional strength and flexibility, making them susceptible to injuries.
Over the years, cricket has seen a number of exciting fast bowlers who have left a real impression on the game. This list includes names like Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson to contemporary stars such as Dale Steyn and Mitchell Starc.
This title of the being the fastest bowler in the world has been held by some truly intimidating bowlers over the years and this includes Shoaib Akhtar, Shaun Tait, Brett Lee among others. These fast bowlers in the world have pushed the boundaries of pace and have left a lasting impression in cricket.
Take a look at some of the fastest bowlers in cricket history, from both the past and the present.
Read More: Fastest Ball in Cricket History
Top 15 Fastest Bowlers in the World
1. Shoaib Akhtar
Shoaib Akhtar, known as the “Rawalpindi Express,” terrified batsmen worldwide with his blistering pace, often exceeding 140 kmph. Akhtar’s fiery temperament matched his bowling speed, making him a fearsome opponent on the field.
Despite battling injuries throughout his career, he delivered several memorable performances during his career. During the 2003 World Cup match against England, Shoaib Akhtar unleashed a lightning-fast delivery clocked at a staggering 161.3 kmph, leaving batsman Nick Knight stunned. This is the fastest-ever delivery bowled in cricket history.
Read More: Know about Shoaib Akhtar’s Bowling Speed
2. Brett Lee
Brett Lee’s fast bowling played a big role in Australia’s dominance across formats, including their World Cup triumphs in 2003 and 2007. Lee’s delivery against New Zealand in Napier, clocked at a staggering 161.1 kmph, etched his name in the record books. This is the second-fastest delivery bowled in cricket history. His thunderous pace, combined with precision and aggression, made him a formidable force on the pitch.
3. Shaun Tait
Shaun Tait is known as one of the fastest bowlers in cricket history. Tait earned the nickname “The Wild Thing” for his pace. Throughout his career, he consistently delivered fast deliveries, often reaching speeds of up to 155 kmph.
In a T20I match in February 2010, Tait bowled a delivery at 160.7 kmph, marking the fastest recorded ball in Australia’s cricket history. Tait, who was part of the Australian team that won the 2007 World Cup, announced his retirement from all forms of cricket in March 2017.
4. Jeff Thomson
When talking about the fastest bowler in the world, you cannot forget to mention Jeffrey Thomas, who intimidated batsmen with his explosive pace.
His career reached a pinnacle when he unleashed a lightning-fast delivery clocked at 160.4 km/hr during a match against West Indies in Perth back in 1975. Thomas’ ability to consistently bowl at such remarkable speeds made him a feared opponent on the cricket field.
5. Mitchell Johnson
Mitchell Johnson is one of the most fearsome fast bowlers of all time. During the 2013 Ashes at the MCG, he bowled his fastest delivery ever, clocking at 156.8 kmph. Johnson contributed significantly to the Australian team’s success.
He was a part of the team that won multiple ICC tournaments, including the 2007 and 2015 Cricket World Cups, as well as the 2006 and 2009 ICC Champions Trophies. Jonhson retired from all formats of the game in August 2018.
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6. Mitchell Starc
Mitchell Johnson is one of the most fearsome fast bowlers of all time. During the 2013 Ashes at the MCG, he bowled his fastest delivery ever, clocking at 156.8 kmph. Johnson contributed significantly to the Australian team’s success.
He was a part of the team that won multiple ICC tournaments, including the 2007 and 2015 Cricket World Cups, as well as the 2006 and 2009 ICC Champions Trophies. Jonhson retired from all formats of the game in August 2018.
7. Wahab Riaz
When talking about fast bowlers, you cannot leave out Pakistanis on the list. Wahab Riaz consistently delivered at speeds of around 145 kmph, with a best speed of an astounding 154.5 kmph during the 2015 World Cup clash against India.
Although he retired from international cricket last year, the pacer continues to play in the Pakistan Super League and other franchise cricket tournaments. In January 2023, during his stint with the Khulna Tigers in the 2022–23 Bangladesh Premier League, he became the first Pakistani bowler to claim 400 wickets in T20 cricket.
8. Umran Malik
Umran Malik, with his lightning-fast deliveries, is making waves in the IPL. In IPL 2022, Umran consistently delivered at speeds exceeding 150 kmph. His average speed hovered around 150 kmph, with numerous deliveries surpassing the 150 mark.
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9. Kagiso Rabada
At just 22 years old, South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada has emerged as one of the fastest bowlers around. Rabada has consistently surpassed 150 kmph in the IPL. Some of these deliveries even ranked in the top 10 fastest. One of his deliveries in the IPL clocked at 154.23 kmph, while another one clocked at 153.91 kmph.
10. Pat Cummins
Pat Cummins, who will be leading the Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2024, is one of the fastest bowlers around. One of his fastest deliveries was against England in 2017 at 149.2 kmph. Cummins played a pivotal role in Australia’s wins in various ICC tournaments.
He was part of the squad that clinched the trophy in the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup and the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Notably, he led the team to victory as captain in the 2021–23 ICC World Test Championship and the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup.
11. Dennis Lillee
Dennis Lillee, the former Australia pacer, is perhaps one of the best fast bowlers in world. He was renowned for his hostile speed as well as his aggressive demeanour.
He started his career from the late 1960s and served Australia till the early 1980s. As per the record, the fastest ball he delivered reached up to 156.7 km/h (97.2 mph). He won several matches for Australia with his own fast bowling.
12. Malcolm Marshall
Malcolm Marshall, considered one of the greatest and most complete fast bowlers in cricket history, could move the ball around with incredible speed and skill.
At his peak, he could hit speeds in excess of 155 and was remarkably consistent. His career was sparkling and was one of the top fast bowlers of all time. His run up, smooth action and awesome follow through made him one of the best fast bowlers in the world.
13. Mark Wood
Mark Wood, a contemporary fast bowler for England, has the ability to work up riveting speeds. He is often the enforcer in England’s bowling attack and has already delivered the world’s fastest ball that recorded speeds of up to 154.4 km/h (95.9 mph
Further Read: Top 10 Fastest Balls in IPL History
14. Dale Steyn
Dale Steyn, one of the most complete fast bowlers in the world, was the number 1 fast bowler for a considerable amount of time during his international career.
His career saw him deliver a menacing outswinger with exception pace and could easily breach 150 km/h. He was South Africa’s leading pacer and his records and excellent bowling average makes him one of the best exponents of pace bowling.
15. Lockie Ferguson
Lockie Ferguson, known for his lightning-fast pace, has become one of the tearaway quicks and has played a key role for New Zealand in the recent times. He has a peak speed of more than 155 km/h – he has become one of the fastest bowlers in the world and has often been the X-factor for the side.
Fast bowling is an art, it adds an element of thrill to the game of cricket and over the years, fast bowlers have really won matches for their respective sides with sheer pace. These bowlers put their body on the line and despite all the injury threats have given fans plenty of moments to cherish.
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FAQ’s about Fastest Bowlers in The World
Q) Who is the fastest bowler in the world?
A) As of now, the current fastest bowler in the world could well be Mark Wood who constantly clocks speeds upwards 150 kmph.
Q) Who are the top 10 fastest bowler in the world?
A) As far as numbers are concerned, Shoaib Akhtar, Brett Lee, Jeff Thomson, Mitchell Starc, Jofra Archer, Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada, Shaun Tait, Mark Wood, Lasith Malinga are some of the fastest bowler in the world.
Q) Who is the current fastest bowler in the world?
A) Currently, bowlers like Lockie Ferguson and Mark Wood are a couple of fastest bowler in the world.
