World Fastest Bowler: The Speed Demons of Cricket

Cricket has from the earlier times been a mix of brute strength and precision perfected by skill, but for the fans, the most fascinating aspect of this game is the speed at which the pacers deliver their ball. A ball that comes at an astonishing rate genuinely sends jitters down the spines of the batsmen and keeps the crowd roaring. Fascinatingly, some of the great fast bowlers over this sport’s history have smashed and broken speed barriers. This article discusses the world fastest bowlers, their recorded performances, contributions to the evolution of the game, and some other unique features.

Who is The world Fastest Bowler?

Numerous players have made the bid for the title of fastest bowler in the world however, one name seems to gleam with pride Shoaib Akhtar of Pakistan. Akin to a formidable and cautious beast on an ancient hunt, he was usually feared for his powerful deliveries at breathtaking speeds, with 161.3 km/h (100.23 mph) against England in the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup being dubbed the fastest ball in cricket history.

He is not the only man instilling fear among the batsmen with blinding pace. Some other names should also appraise the speedsters of the past century.

Top 10 Fastest Bowlers in Cricket History

1. Shoaib Akhtar (Pakistan) – 161.3 km/h (100.23 mph)

Whenever Shoaib Akhtar was on the field, chaos reigned. His play and psychotic blasting bouts along with slaughtering pace made him incredibly popular among the people of Pakistan. The best part about him was his true magical delivery which was delivered against Diffed’s Nick and it remains best till date.

2. Brett Lee (Australia) – 161.1 km/h (100.14 mph)

Lee’s daft aggression fueled each flash display. He was magnificent, of course, hitting 161.1km/h against New Zealand in 2005, when the Australian record was up for grabs. He, naturally, is celebrated for his robust arms and still enjoys the reputation as the sport’s best pair of hands tackler.

3. Shaun Tait (Australia) – 161.1 km/h (100.14 mph)

Unlike his contemporary, this man does not have a shrewd bowler’s orthodox desi action. Shaun Tait is on record for 161.1 kph which comes very close to Lee’s fastest T.C. mark. He was awarded this record while playing against England in 2010.

4. Jeff Thomson (Australia) – 160.6 km/h (99.8 mph)

No one did for Australia’s bowling greats what Jeff accomplished for them by making him by far the cruelest pace and height of attack among other nations. This sense of brutality brought him magic enchantment and his fury, with seven speakers would grant him a staggering 160.6kph was an understatement.

5. Mitchell Starc (Australia) – 160.4 km/h (99.7 mph)

Starc made mincemeat of New Zealand in that test match by smashing his best score right before his 2015 ball blitz. His record of 160.4 km/h, scored in a test match against Canada got him into the position as one of Australia’s greatest wicket-winning all-time players.

6. Andy Roberts (West Indies)- 159.5 km/h (99.1 mph)

Roberts didn’t lag one match behind anyone on his peer contemporaries’ timeline. For quite some years he was integral and an integral constituent of West Indian pace force recording speeds that run up to as high as 159.5 km/hr of his late teens during late-1970’s.

7. Fidel Edwards (West Indies) -157.7km/h,98mph

A very distinctive and unusual sling action brought many people in mind of the great Lasith Malinga as Fidel Edwards hit a top international cricket speed of 1578 km/hr.

8. Mitchell Johnson (Australia) – 156.8 km/h (97.4 mph)

Johnson is undoubtedly considered one of the most destructive left-arm pacers Australia has seen, having registered a speed of 156.8 km/hr in the Ashes series of 2013, which made it impossible for the rest of the Englishmen’s batsmen to stand any chance.

9. Kagiso Rabada (South Africa) – 155.0 km/h (96.3 mph)

Rabada is undoubtedly one of the fastest bowlers in the modern game, who regularly hurls it above 150 km/hr. He also holds the record for the highest speed during a match, which is 155 km/hr.

10. Jofra Archer (England) – 154.65 km/h (96.1 mph)

Archer, theenglishpacer from his natural born speed has maintained 154.65 figure against England in2019 Ashes series.

What Makes a Fast Bowler So Fast?

Speed bowling is not entirely about muscle strength; it comprises a multitude of elements:

1. A Smooth Bowling Action

• Commonly placed as the optimum type of action is an approach that is effortless and on point.

2. Core Strength & Fitness

• Fast bowlers are required to enhance their physical training with some extreme cardio workouts in order to build the legs, core, and shoulders.

3. Seam Position & Release

• The type of grip a bowler employs and how he accidentally lets go of the ball determines the velocity as well as trajectory of the ball.

4. Mental Toughness

• Focusing on and maintaining speed while bowling the ball, especially when performing in long-form cricket matches, is a difficult issue and requires exceptional focus and stamina.

The Impact of Speed in Cricket

1. Psychological Pressure on Batsmen

Batsmen get under tremendous pressure since responding to a 150 or more kilometer per hour delivery would need quick reflexes along with sharp decision making.

2. Advantage in Short Formats

In a T20 cricket match, fast bowlers always have the upper hand as it becomes increasingly difficult for the batsmen to appropriately time their shots with the outburst of speed.

3. Injury Risks for Bowlers

It is a highly paced match which increases the stress being afflicted unto the body. This puts value of fast bowling at a greater risk and makes the fast bowlers more susceptible to injuries.

Future of Fast Bowling

Modern-day fast bowling, more than anything else, runs parallel to sporting sciences and technological advancement, and such is the case for Umran Malik of India and Lockie Ferguson of New Zealand, among the new-age breed of fast bowlers, who are smashing records with amazing speed to keep the very spirit of fast bowling alive.

Conclusion

Shoaib Akhtar remains the fastest fast bowler that has ever been on the planet and may soon see his record being challenged from a large number of new talents waiting in the wings.Fast bowlers add so much to the value of cricket, and the way technology and training are advancing, it may not be long before someone breaks the current record of 162 km/h. Till that day comes, fans would watch in old charm as high pace bowling entertains them.

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