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Fast bowling is an art that requires immense strength, making it one of the most challenging aspects of cricket. If a bowler can consistently generate raw pace along with swing, they become a lethal weapon for their team. Since the game's inception, many pacers have terrorized opposition batters with their sheer speed.
Here are the five fastest deliveries ever bowled in international cricket:
1. Shoaib Akhtar (Pakistan) – 161.3 kmph
The former Pakistan speedster holds the Guinness World Record for bowling the fastest delivery in international cricket. During the 2003 ODI World Cup against England, Akhtar unleashed a 161.3 kmph thunderbolt, which Nick Knight faced and managed to tuck onto the leg side for a single. Known for his raw pace, Akhtar earned the nickname ‘The Rawalpindi Express’ from his fans.
2. Shaun Tait and Brett Lee (Australia) – 161.1 kmph
Two Australian pacers share the second spot. Shaun Tait bowled a 161.1 kmph delivery against England at Lord’s in 2010, while Brett Lee reached the same speed against New Zealand in Napier in 2005.
3. Shaun Tait (Australia) – 160.7 kmph
Tait was a unique bowler who combined a long run-up with a slinging action, helping him generate extra speed. He clocked 160.7 kmph against Pakistan in a T20I at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
4. Jeff Thomson and Mitchell Starc (Australia) – 160.4 kmph
In fourth place, two more Australians feature on the list. Jeff Thomson bowled a 160.4 kmph delivery against the West Indies in Perth during a home series in 1975. Decades later, in the second Test at the WACA in 2015, Mitchell Starc matched that speed with a yorker on the off stump against New Zealand. Kiwi batter Ross Taylor managed to defend it. Starc is one of the fastest bowlers that the world has seen in recent times.
5. Andy Roberts (West Indies) – 159.9 kmph
West Indies legend Andy Roberts has bowled the fifth-fastest delivery in international cricket history. A key figure in the dominant West Indies pace attack of his era, Roberts’ speed and aggression made him a nightmare for batters. He recorded his 159.9 kmph delivery against Australia in 1975.
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