by In cricket, few things captivate fans more than the sight of a fast bowler thundering in and delivering a ball at extreme speeds.
The world fastest bowler ranking showcases those rare athletes who can propel a cricket ball faster than anyone else, creating moments of pure excitement and often fear among batsmen.
Fast bowling combines raw athleticism, technical precision, and mental fortitude.
Throughout cricket history, these speedsters have turned matches with their pace alone, forcing batsmen to make split-second decisions and often creating match-winning opportunities for their teams.
From Pakistan’s “Rawalpindi Express” to Australia’s fearsome pace battery, the pursuit of ultimate speed has been a thrilling subplot in cricket’s narrative.
Contents
- 1 World Fastest Bowler Ranking
- 1.1 List of 14 Fastest Bowler In The World: In A Nutshell
- 1.2 Shoaib Akhtar
- 1.3 Brett Lee
- 1.4 Shaun Tait
- 1.5 Jeff Thomson
- 1.6 Mitchell Starc
- 1.7 Andy Roberts
- 1.8 Fidel Edwards
- 1.9 Mitchell Johnson
- 1.10 Mohammad Sami
- 1.11 Shane Bond
- 1.12 Nantie Hayward
- 1.13 Jason Gillespie
- 1.14 Waqar Younis
- 1.15 Jasprit Bumrah
- 1.16 Frequently Asked Questions About Fast Bowling
- 1.17 Conclusion: The Enduring Appeal of Express Pace
World Fastest Bowler Ranking
This guide examines the top 14 fastest bowlers ever recorded in cricket, ranked by their peak speeds. We’ll explore what makes each bowler special and their impact on the game.
List of 14 Fastest Bowler In The World: In A Nutshell
| Rank | Cricketer | Ball Speed | Country | Against | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shoaib Akhtar | 161.3 km/h (100.23 mph) | Pakistan | England | 2003 |
| 2 | Brett Lee | 161.1 km/h (100.1 mph) | Australia | New Zealand | 2005 |
| 3 | Shaun Tait | 161.1 km/h (100.1 mph) | Australia | England | 2010 |
| 4 | Jeff Thomson | 160.6 km/h (99.8 mph) | Australia | West Indies | 1975 |
| 5 | Mitchell Starc | 160.4 km/h (99.7 mph) | Australia | New Zealand | 2015 |
| 6 | Andy Roberts | 159.5 km/h (99.1 mph) | West Indies | Australia | 1975 |
| 7 | Fidel Edwards | 157.7 km/h (98.0 mph) | West Indies | South Africa | 2003 |
| 8 | Mitchell Johnson | 156.8 km/h (97.4 mph) | Australia | England | 2013 |
| 9 | Mohammad Sami | 156.4 km/h (97.1 mph) | Pakistan | Zimbabwe | 2003 |
| 10 | Shane Bond | 156.4 km/h (97.1 mph) | New Zealand | India | 2003 |
| 11 | Nantie Hayward | 154.4 km/h (95.95 mph) | South Africa | India | 2001 |
| 12 | Jason Gillespie | 153.9 km/h (95.6 mph) | Australia | South Africa | 2002 |
| 13 | Waqar Younis | 153 km/h (95.07 mph) | Pakistan | South Africa | 1993 |
| 14 | Jasprit Bumrah | 153.26 km/h (95.2 mph) | India | Australia | 2018 |
Shoaib Akhtar
| Full Name | Shoaib Akhtar |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Rawalpindi Express |
| Fastest Ball | 161.3 km/h (100.23 mph) |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Year | 2003 |
At the top of the fastest bowlers list stands Shoaib Akhtar, whose 161.3 km/h delivery during the 2003 World Cup remains the fastest officially recorded ball in cricket history. Nicknamed the “Rawalpindi Express,” Akhtar’s career (1997-2011) was defined by his fiery temperament and intimidating presence on the field.
What made Akhtar special was his ability to combine extreme pace with:
- Reverse swing at high speeds
- Accurate yorkers targeting the batsman’s feet
- Sharp bouncers that rose dramatically
- Deceptive slower balls that fooled batsmen
Despite frequent injuries, Akhtar claimed 178 Test wickets and 247 ODI wickets. His aggressive style and record-breaking pace made him one of cricket’s most captivating figures and an inspiration to fast bowlers worldwide.
Brett Lee
| Full Name | Brett Lee |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Binga |
| Fastest Ball | 161.1 km/h (100.1 mph) |
| Country | Australia |
| Year | 2005 |
Australia’s Brett Lee recorded a delivery of 161.1 km/h against New Zealand in 2005, placing him second on the list. Unlike many extreme pace bowlers, Lee combined terrifying speed with remarkable consistency and a long career (1999-2012).
Lee’s approach featured:
- A smooth, athletic run-up
- Perfect biomechanics that minimized injury risk
- Exceptional control even at extreme speeds
- A constant smile that masked his lethal intent
Lee finished with impressive career statistics: 310 Test wickets and 380 ODI wickets. Beyond his numbers, Lee was known for his sportsmanship, often checking on batsmen he hit with bouncers. After retirement, he continued contributing to cricket as a commentator and mentor.
Shaun Tait
| Full Name | Shaun William Tait |
|---|---|
| Nickname | The Wild Thing |
| Fastest Ball | 161.1 km/h (100.1 mph) |
| Country | Australia |
| Year | 2010 |
Sharing second place is another Australian, Shaun “The Wild Thing” Tait, who clocked 161.1 km/h against England in 2010. Tait represents a different type of fast bowler – one who sacrificed longevity for sheer, unbridled pace.
Tait’s distinctive unorthodox slinging action resembled a catapult releasing a projectile. This generated extreme speed but also put tremendous strain on his body, leading to a career (2004-2016) frequently interrupted by injuries.
Tait focused on:
- Short, explosive spells rather than long ones
- All-out attack rather than containment
- Limited formats (retiring early from first-class cricket)
The unpredictability that came with his unconventional action made facing Tait particularly challenging for batsmen, even beyond his raw pace.
Jeff Thomson
| Full Name | Jeffrey Robert Thomson |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Thommo |
| Fastest Ball | 160.6 km/h (99.8 mph) |
| Country | Australia |
| Year | 1975 |
Jeff Thomson represents the pioneering era of extreme fast bowling, with his fastest delivery of 160.6 km/h against the West Indies in 1975. What makes “Thommo’s” achievement remarkable is that it came before modern training methods and equipment.
Thomson’s bowling featured a unique slinging action that appeared casual but produced a terrifying pace. He famously declared he enjoyed “seeing blood on the pitch,” and formed a fearsome partnership with Dennis Lillee.
Thomson’s impact went beyond his 200 Test wickets – he changed how batsmen approached fast bowling and influenced the development of better protective gear. Many cricket historians consider facing Thomson in his prime on fast Australian pitches to be among cricket’s most intimidating experiences.
Mitchell Starc
| Full Name | Mitchell Aaron Starc |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Mitch |
| Fastest Ball | 160.4 km/h (99.7 mph) |
| Country | Australia |
| Year | 2015 |
The fastest active bowler on this list, Mitchell Starc, brings a left-arm dimension to extreme pace. His fastest delivery of 160.4 km/h against New Zealand in 2015 demonstrates that the art of extreme fast bowling remains alive in modern cricket.
Starc combines several elements that make him uniquely dangerous:
- Left-arm angle creating difficult lines
- Exceptional swing with both new and old ball
- Deadly yorkers targeting the base of stumps
- Steep bounce from his 6’5″ frame
What separates Starc is his match-winning ability in crucial moments. He was Player of the Tournament in Australia’s 2015 World Cup victory, taking 22 wickets at an average of just 10.18.
Andy Roberts
| Full Name | Anderson Montgomery Everton Roberts |
|---|---|
| Nickname | The Hitman |
| Fastest Ball | 159.5 km/h (99.1 mph) |
| Country | West Indies |
| Year | 1975 |
Andy Roberts represents the beginning of the West Indies pace bowling dynasty that dominated cricket for nearly two decades. His 159.5 km/h delivery against Australia in 1975 demonstrated the raw potential that would later define West Indian cricket.
What made Roberts particularly effective was his cricket intelligence. He is credited with developing the first truly effective slower ball in fast bowling – a delivery that looked identical to his fastest balls but arrived significantly later.
Roberts’ approach featured:
- A quiet, calculating demeanor masking intense aggression
- Immaculate control of line and length
- Strategic use of the bouncer
- Variation in pace when most fast bowlers focused solely on speed
With 202 Test wickets at an average of 25.61, Roberts paved the way for the fearsome West Indies pace quartets that followed.
Fidel Edwards
| Full Name | Fidel Henderson Edwards |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Castro |
| Fastest Ball | 157.7 km/h (98.0 mph) |
| Country | West Indies |
| Year | 2003 |
Continuing the West Indian fast bowling tradition, Fidel Edwards burst onto the scene with a distinctive sling-arm action. His fastest delivery of 157.7 km/h against South Africa in 2003 announced him as a worthy heir to the Caribbean’s pace bowling legacy.
Edwards’ style featured:
- An explosive sling-arm action generating a surprising pace from a small frame
- A short, skiddy approach rather than traditional high-arm action
- Sharp bouncers that rose quickly due to his low release point
- Late outswing complementing his pace
What made Edwards’ career noteworthy was his persistence through injuries. His ability to generate consistent extreme pace from a unique action added valuable variety to the West Indies bowling attack.
Mitchell Johnson
| Full Name | Mitchell Guy Johnson |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Mitch |
| Fastest Ball | 156.8 km/h (97.4 mph) |
| Country | Australia |
| Year | 2013 |
Mitchell Johnson’s 156.8 km/h delivery came during his career-defining 2013-14 Ashes series, where he terrorized England’s batsmen. Johnson’s career represents how raw pace, when combined with improved control and mental strength, can create a devastating weapon.
Johnson’s bowling featured:
- A powerful, muscular action generating pace from upper-body strength
- Left-arm angle creating awkward lines
- Intimidating appearance with his mustache and aggressive demeanor
- Variable bounce makes him unpredictable even on good pitches
What made Johnson remarkable was his transformation from inconsistent to unplayable. Earlier in his career, he was mocked by English fans for wayward bowling. By 2013, he had developed into the bowler who would terrorize those same batsmen, taking 37 wickets at 13.97 in a 5-0 Ashes whitewash.
Mohammad Sami
| Full Name | Mohammad Sami |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Sami |
| Fastest Ball | 156.4 km/h (97.1 mph) |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Year | 2003 |
Mohammad Sami represents one of cricket’s great mysteries – a bowler with incredible physical gifts whose career numbers never matched his potential. His 156.4 km/h delivery against Zimbabwe in 2003 showed the raw talent that had many predicting greatness.
Sami’s bowling featured:
- A smooth, rhythmic run-up building to an explosive pace
- Natural swing with both new and old ball
- Clean, repeatable action suggesting durability
The puzzle of Sami’s career lies in his statistics – 85 Test wickets at an average of 52.74 – numbers that don’t reflect a bowler of his caliber. Despite unfulfilled potential, his presence on this list confirms his rare physical gifts.
Shane Bond
| Full Name | Shane Edward Bond |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Bondy |
| Fastest Ball | 156.4 km/h (97.1 mph) |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Year | 2003 |
Shane Bond represents one of cricket’s great “what if” stories – a bowler of exceptional talent whose career was repeatedly interrupted by serious injuries. His 156.4 km/h delivery against India in 2003 highlighted the special talent that, when fit, made him one of the world’s most feared fast bowlers.
Bond’s bowling combined:
- Perfect textbook action generating an extreme pace
- Late swing at high speed
- Pinpoint accuracy is rarely seen in express bowlers
Despite playing only 18 Test matches, Bond took 87 wickets at an exceptional average of 22.09. His ODI record was equally impressive with 147 wickets at 20.88. These numbers suggest that with better luck regarding injuries, Bond might have been one of the all-time greats.
Nantie Hayward
| Full Name | Nantie Hayward |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Nantie |
| Fastest Ball | 154.4 km/h (95.95 mph) |
| Country | South Africa |
| Year | 2001 |
Nantie Hayward brought raw pace to South African cricket during a period when they were better known for accuracy than extreme speed. His fastest delivery of 154.4 km/h against India in 2001 showed his rare talent.
Hayward’s approach featured:
- A bustling, energetic run-up
- Aggressive body language
- Steeply rising bouncers from a good length
Despite his talent, Hayward’s international career was relatively brief, spanning just 16 Tests and 21 ODIs. His decision to join the rebel Indian Cricket League in 2007 effectively ended his chances of further international cricket.
Jason Gillespie
| Full Name | Jason Neil Gillespie |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Dizzy |
| Fastest Ball | 153.9 km/h (95.6 mph) |
| Country | Australia |
| Year | 2002 |
Jason Gillespie combined genuine pace with exceptional control and consistency. His fastest delivery of 153.9 km/h against South Africa in 2002 showed he could generate serious speed when needed, but his real strength lay in his all-round bowling skills.
Gillespie’s bowling featured:
- A high, classical action generating bounce and pace
- Metronomic accuracy hitting the same spot repeatedly
- Subtle movement both in the air and off the pitch
As Glenn McGrath’s new-ball partner during Australia’s dominant era, Gillespie often played a supporting role but was world-class in his own right, finishing with 259 Test wickets at an excellent average of 26.13.
Waqar Younis
| Full Name | Waqar Younis Maitla |
|---|---|
| Nickname | The Burewala Express |
| Fastest Ball | 153 km/h (95.07 mph) |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Year | 1993 |
Waqar Younis might rank 13th for pure speed, but in terms of effectiveness, he stands among the greatest fast bowlers ever. His fastest recorded delivery of 153 km/h showed his raw pace, but his mastery of reverse swing truly set him apart.
Waqar’s bowling featured:
- A long, galloping run-up building tremendous momentum
- A slingy, front-on action putting immense revolutions on the ball
- Devastating reverse swing with the old ball
- The inswinging yorker that became his trademark
What made Waqar special was his exceptional strike rate – his Test strike rate of 43.4 ranks among the best of all time. His partnership with Wasim Akram formed one of cricket’s greatest new-ball pairs, with Waqar taking 373 Test wickets and 416 ODI wickets.
Jasprit Bumrah
| Full Name | Jasprit Jasbirsingh Bumrah |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Boom Boom |
| Fastest Ball | 153.26 km/h (95.2 mph) |
| Country | India |
| Year | 2018 |
The newest addition to this elite list, Jasprit Bumrah represents the evolution of fast bowling in modern cricket. His fastest delivery of 153.26 km/h against Australia in 2018 demonstrated that despite his unconventional action, he can generate pace to match the world’s quickest.
What makes Bumrah unique is his highly unusual bowling action:
- A short, stiff-armed run-up that doesn’t suggest extreme pace
- A hyperextended elbow in his delivery stride
- A release point much closer to the batsman than typical
This unorthodox approach gives Bumrah several advantages:
- Batsmen find it difficult to pick up his variations
- The ball arrives quicker than expected due to his release point
- He generates movement in both directions with the same action
As the youngest bowler on this list, Bumrah has the potential to rise even higher in the rankings of cricket’s greatest fast bowlers if he maintains his form and fitness.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fast Bowling
- Who is the fastest bowler in cricket history?
Shoaib Akhtar holds the official record at 161.3 km/h (100.23 mph) against England during the 2003 World Cup.
- Are fast bowlers born or made?
Fast bowling requires a combination of natural attributes and developed skills. Genetics play a role (height, fast-twitch muscles), but technical training, fitness conditioning, and mental toughness are equally important.
- Why do Australia and Pakistan produce so many fast bowlers?
Australia’s success stems from bouncy pitches, advanced coaching systems, and a cricket culture valuing pace. Pakistan’s fast bowling tradition comes from street cricket with tape balls (encouraging swing), influential role models like Imran Khan and Wasim Akram, and a national preference for aggressive cricket.
- What makes a great fast bowler beyond just speed?
Elite fast bowlers combine speed with:
- Accuracy – consistently hitting good areas
- Movement – swing, seam, or cut
- Variations – yorkers, bouncers, slower balls
- Cricket intelligence – understanding batsmen’s weaknesses
- Mental toughness – maintaining aggression over long spells
Also Check:
Conclusion: The Enduring Appeal of Express Pace
The world’s fastest bowlers represent a special breed of cricketers who push the boundaries of human performance.
From Shoaib Akhtar’s record-breaking delivery to the current generation led by Mitchell Starc and Jasprit Bumrah, extreme-pace bowling continues to captivate cricket fans worldwide.
What this list demonstrates is that raw pace remains a priceless commodity in cricket.
Despite the physical demands and injury risks associated with bowling at such speeds, the ability to hurry even the best batsmen creates a spectacle unlike any other in the sport.
The evolution of fast bowling has seen different eras produce their unique speedsters.
From the slinging actions of Thomson and Edwards to the classical approaches of Lee and Bond, there are many paths to generating extreme pace.
While Australia dominates this list with five entrants, the global spread of pace bowling talent shows that speed merchants can emerge from any cricket-playing nation.
For fans and aspiring cricketers alike, these fourteen bowlers represent the pinnacle of fast bowling achievement.
Their legacy lives on through records, memorable spells, and their continuing influence on how cricket views the art of extreme-pace bowling.
