Top 5 Fastest Deliveries Bowled In International Cricket

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Bowlers in the game of cricket have been one of the major factors behind a team’s victory in the match. A good bowler in the team not only helps in picking wickets in the match but also gives a scare in the dug out of the opposition. Fast bowlers use their bone-breaking pace to intimidate the batters of the opposition, and here are the names of those bowlers who have surpassed an average bowler’s speed and delivered the fastest deliveries in international cricket; some even clocked 160+ on the speed gun.

Mitchell Starc (160.4 kmph)

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The left-arm speedster of the Australian team, Mitchell Starc, is at number five on this list. He has been a match winner for Australia and represented Australia in all three formats. His swinging high-pace deliveries troubled the world-class batters often. One of the most lethal weapons that he has in his arsenal is his “pace.” He can consistently bowl over 155+ kmph, and it was back in 2015 when he delivered the fastest ball of his career. Australia was bowling against New Zealand at WACA in the second test match of the series. Mitchell Starc was constantly hitting 155+ on the speed gun, and while bowling his fourth delivery of the innings in the 89th over, he clocked 160.4 kmph, but Ross Taylor on the receiving end defended the ball well.

Jeff Thompson(160.6 kmph)

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Another Australian name that has been included in this list is the great Australian bowler Jeff Thompson, who was a nightmare for the batters during his prime. With his sheer pace and variations, he made Australia an indomitable force during his career, from 1972 to 1985. He played 51 test matches, scalping 200 wickets, and represented Australia in 50 ODI matches, taking 55 wickets in the 50 overs format. During Australia’s match against the West Indies in 1975 in a home test series, he clocked 160.6 kmph on the speed gun, which was recorded as the fastest delivery of his career.

Shaun Tait (161.1 kmph)

Australian bowlers dominate the list of fastest deliveries bowled in international cricket. Adding to that is the name of right-arm fast bowler Shaun Tait, whose unique slingy action and correct release point with the extreme power behind them make his deliveries unplayable sometimes, but the power he was generating takes a toll on his body, limiting him to limited overs format. In 2010, Shaun Tait delivered the fastest ball of his career when Australia was playing against England. He bowled a delivery with a speed of 161.1 kmph.

Brett Lee(161.1 kmph)

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Brett Lee, with his powerful high-arm action, has dominated the fastest bowlers’ tally. His accuracy and lethal yorkers in the death overs of the innings helped Australia win many low-scoring matches in his international bowling career; he scalped 718 wickets (combining all three formats). He bowled the fastest delivery of his bowling career in 2005, when Australia was playing against New Zealand. He clocked 161.1 kmph, which was the second fastest delivery in the history of cricket.

Shoaib Akhtar(161.3 kmph)

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Pakistan has been known for producing world-class bowlers, and Shoaib Akhtar was one of them, known by his nickname “Rawalpindi Express.” The right-arm bowler from Pakistan has been at the top of the list of the fastest deliveries ever bowled. Pakistan’s speedster clocked 161.3 kmph in the 2003 ODI World Cup when Pakistan was playing against England.