Top 10 Most Successful Fast Bowler In The World
In cricket, batsmen receive high praise for hitting sixes, but bowlers also take multiple wickets in a match by knocking down the stumps. Many players have come and gone, with some setting records and others facing failures. These are the players whom cricket enthusiasts look up to for inspiration. Now, let’s introduce you to 10 such batsmen.
#10 Shane Bond (New Zealand)
Shane Bond, the talented fast bowler from New Zealand, was renowned for his lightning pace on the cricket field. His toe-crushing Yorkers were a spectacle to witness, leaving batsmen in awe during matches. Bond’s skill and speed were evident as he dismissed the celebrated Australian batsman, Ricky Ponting, on six occasions. His ability to consistently deliver at high speeds while keeping an impeccable line and length earned him global recognition.
Enthusiastic cricket fans often engaged in fervent discussions about his smooth and fruitful bowling action, complemented by his skillful swinging deliveries. Shane Bond’s prowess with the ball made him a memorable and respected figure in the world of cricket.
#09 Mohammad Sami (Pakistan)
In cricket history Sami is renowned as Pakistan’s fastest bowler, famous for his pace and swing. During a match, he bowled at a speed of 164 km/h, which was the fastest recorded delivery in cricket history. However, cricket officials later deemed it as an error. According to speed meters, Sami threw the fastest ball at 156.4 km/h in an ODI against Zimbabwe in 2003, making it the official record.
Throughout his career, Sami consistently delivered at high speeds for Pakistan. He took 85 Test wickets and 121 ODI wickets during his impressive career as a bowler.
#08 Mitchell Johnson (Australia)
He was one of the fastest bowlers in the world, the one with the big handlebar mustache. This Australian bowler used to run in with a long run-up, and when he came charging, the batsmen would feel the pressure. As a left-arm fast bowler, he threw his fastest ball at 156.8 km/h during the 2013 Ashes series at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). This speedy bowler showed an aggressive attitude, and he performed exceptionally well against England and South Africa.
In the 8 Test matches played against both teams, Johnson easily dismantled some of the biggest names in batting. His bowling average during this period was around 15.23, and he took a total of 59 wickets. At the age of 32, Johnson was honored with the “Allan Border Medal” for his outstanding performance, and he received greetings from all around the world. Additionally, for Australia, Mitchell Johnson secured 313 Test wickets and 239 ODI wickets throughout his career.
In 2013, he played a crucial role in leading Australia to victory in the Ashes, taking 37 wickets in the series. Furthermore, Johnson was also a part of Australia’s winning team in the 2015 “World Cup.”
#07 Fidel Edwards (West Indies)
“West Indies’ fast bowler Fidel Edwards made his debut in 2003, and as soon as he entered the international scene, he was considered one of the fastest bowlers in the world. Fidel threw his fastest ball, clocking 157.7 km/h, against South Africa. His bowling speed was consistently high, and his action was quite peculiar, resembling to some extent that of Malinga’s. Though Fidel didn’t make as much impact at the global level as expected for a right-arm fast bowler, he played for the West Indies and managed to take 165 wickets in Test matches and 60 wickets in One Day Internationals throughout his career.”
#06 Andy Roberts (West Indies)
In the 1970s and 1980s, there was a time when Andy Roberts was a world-famous member of the West Indies cricket team. He bowled the fastest delivery at that time, clocking 159.5 km/h, which he threw during a match against Australia in Perth in 1975. Roberts was the first player from Antigua to represent the West Indies at the international level. Andy Roberts was also a part of the West Indies’ World Cup teams in 1975 and 1979. Throughout his career, he took 202 wickets in Test matches and 87 wickets in One Day Internationals (ODIs) while playing for the West Indies.
#05 Mitchell Starc (Australia)
Mitchell Starc is famous worldwide for his perfect Yorker deliveries, and he has created a unique identity for himself. He is widely regarded as one of the best bowlers of the present time and is particularly celebrated as one of the finest left-arm fast bowlers. Even today, he continues to be at the top of his game.
Starc made a mark in the cricket world by being the highest wicket-taker in two consecutive ODI World Cups, in the years 2015 and 2019. His talent as a bowler matches his incredible pace, and it was evident during a Test match against New Zealand in Perth when he bowled at a speed of 160.4 km/h. If that ball had been a little faster, he might have become the fastest bowler in the world.
At 31 years of age, Starc has taken 255 wickets in Test matches and 184 wickets in One Day Internationals (ODIs) in his career so far. He continues to represent Australia with dedication and skill.”
#04 Jeff Thomson (Australia)
In their time, this Australian player was like a terrifying nightmare for batsmen. With his fast and dangerous bowling skills, he would disrupt the sleep of opposition batsmen, causing them to have restless nights. Jeff Thomson was such a bowler who not only had blistering pace but also maintained excellent control over line and length. This combination of skills made him intimidating in the minds of the opposition. During a match against the West Indies in Perth in 1975, Thomson bowled his fastest delivery at a speed of 160.6 km/h, while partnering with Dennis Lillee. Thomson and Lillee were considered the fastest and most dangerous bowling duo in the world during the 1974-1975 season. Between 1972 and 1985, Jeff Thomson took 200 Test wickets and 55 ODI wickets.
#03 Shaun Tait (Australia)
Despite having broad shoulders and a muscular body, this bowler instilled fear in the batsmen’s minds even with his short run-up. When he released the ball, even reluctant batsmen would instinctively try to protect themselves. It was due to this unique quality that Shaun Tait found a place in the world’s biggest leagues, thanks to his extraordinary bowling.
While Shaun Tait didn’t achieve immense success at the international level while playing for Australia, his impact on international cricket was remarkable. During the year 2010, he was among the fastest bowlers in the world, consistently delivering thunderous pace. From 2014 to 2016, he played only three Test matches and 35 ODI matches for Australia. Despite this, he was known for his ability to consistently bowl at speeds of around 150 km/h.
To give you an idea of his skills, it was said that in cricket history, no other bowler has consistently bowled every ball at speeds of 150 km/h, making him truly unique and no less than a wonder in the world of cricket.
#02 Brett Lee (Australia)
Brett Lee is considered the second fastest bowler in cricket history. This player from New South Wales made a distinct mark in international cricket around the year 2000. During that time, Australia had a formidable bowling lineup, featuring players like Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, along with Brett Lee, who was an ale-ale fast bowler. Besides maintaining a steady line and length, Lee troubled batsmen worldwide with his lightning-fast bowling.
In 2005, during a match against New Zealand in Napier, Brett Lee bowled his fastest delivery at a speed of 161.1 km/h. During those days, Lee was at the peak of his form, and he was seen as a powerful weapon in the Australian bowling attack. He possessed various skills, ranging from slow balls to dangerous Yorkers. Not only was he effective in bowling dangerous bouncers to put pressure on batsmen, but he also had a knack for getting them out with seemingly effortless deliveries.
It was these exceptional abilities that led Brett Lee to carve out a unique identity in world cricket, making him successful in building his legacy.
#01 Shoaib Akhtar (Pakistan)
Shoaib Akhtar, famously known as the “Rawalpindi Express,” is the fastest bowler in the world of cricket. He had a unique run-up that would make the batsmen nervous just by watching it. He often ran in close to the boundary line before delivering the ball. With his lightning-fast action, he generated incredible speed and bounce.
In 2003, during a match against England in Cape Town, this right-arm fast bowler from Pakistan bowled at a speed of 161.3 km/h, showcasing his extraordinary abilities. Shoaib Akhtar’s aggressive and dynamic bowling, coupled with his distinctive bowling action, often stirred controversies, keeping him in the headlines.
While playing for Pakistan, Shoaib Akhtar took 178 Test wickets and 247 ODI wickets. His lightning-fast bowling scared batsmen worldwide, and most of them feared facing his deliveries. Many players couldn’t even touch his deliveries, let alone score a boundary or a six against him.