Legendary Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar holds the record for the fastest ball in cricket history.

During the 2003 ODI Cricket World Cup in Cape Town, Shoaib Akhtar produced the fastest ball in cricket history as clocked 161.3 kph against England in his second over of the game.

Bowling to England’s opening batter Nick Knight, the Pakistani speedster recorded speeds of 153.3 km/h, 158.4km/h, 158.5km/h, 157.4km/h, 159.5km/h and 161.3km/h to bowl a maiden over.

Former Australia speedster Shaun Tait recorded the second-fastest ball in cricket history.

Considered to be one of the fastest bowlers of all time, Shaun Tait became the second bowler to breach the 100 mph barrier against England at the iconic Lord’s in an ODI clash in 2010.

Tail produced a 161.1 km/h (100.1 mph) delivery while bowling to England opening batter Craig Kieswetter in his first over. 

The Australian pacer later scalped four wicket wickets to guide the visitors to a 42-run victory.

Apart from Tait, the likes of Brett Lee, Jeffrey Thomson and Mitchell Starc feature on the top five list for the fastest ball in cricket history.

Popularly Known as "Thommo", Jeffrey Thomson produced a 160.6 kph delivery to record the fastest ball in cricket history at that time against the West Indies in Perth in 1975.

Almost three decades later in 2005, former Australia fast bowler Brett Lee etched his name in the elite list.

Lee clocked 161.1 kph delivery against arch-rivals New Zealand in 2005 to break Jeffrey Thomson’s record.

Among Indian bowlers, Umran Malik holds the record for the fastest ball in cricket history.

While representing the Hyderabad franchise in the Indian T20 League, Umran Malik produced a 157.0 kph thunderbolt against Delhi to become the fastest Indian bowler.

In international cricket, former left-arm pacer Irfan Pathan recorded the fastest ball in cricket history by an Indian bowler. Pathan recorded a 153.7 kph delivery against Pakistan in 2007. Get list of fastest ball in cricket history.

Fastest ball in cricket history

Fastest ball in international cricket

Fastest ball in Indian T20 League

Fastest ball in cricket history by an Indian bowler

Photo credit: Alamy

Bowling at breakneck speeds has always been a sought-after quality since the early days of cricket. From Jeff Thomson and Dennis Lillee to Shoaib Akthar and Brett Lee, fast bowlers are considered one of the most important members of any cricket team.

Among all these greats, a few have etched their names in history by bowling the fastest balls in cricket history. Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar is the fastest bowler in the world, breaking the 100 miles per hour (mph) barrier against England for the first time in international cricket.

Here, we look at the fastest bowlers in the world.

Fastest bowler in the world

Shoaib Akhtar - 161.3kmph (100.2mph) | Pakistan vs England, 2003

Nicknamed the Rawalpindi Express, Shoaib Akhtar bowled the fastest delivery in cricket - 161.3 km/h (100.2 mph) - in a One-Day International (ODI) game against England during the 2003 Cricket World Cup at Cape Town in South Africa.

Bowling his second over of the match to former England opening batter Nick Knight, Akhtar tormented the southpaw by recording speeds of 153.3 km/h, 158.4km/h, 158.5km/h, 157.4km/h, 159.5km/h and 161.3km/h as he completed a maiden over. 

The last ball of the fourth over of the match was bowled at 161.3km/h, etching Shoaib Akhtar’s name in the history books as the world’s fastest bowler.

#OnThisDay in 2003 @shoaib100mph registered his name in the record books by bowling the fastest delivery officially recorded at 100.2 MPH in @cricketworldcup game against England.pic.twitter.com/PE8RuwrW1i

�?Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) February 22, 2021

However, the right-arm fast bowler ended up conceding 63 runs in his nine overs, picking the solitary wicket of Michael Vaughan as Pakistan suffered a 112-run defeat in the 50-over World Cup encounter.

Shaun Tait - 161.1kmph (100.1mph) | Australia vs England, 2010

Shaun Tait is officially considered the second cricketer to breach the 100 mph barrier against England at Lord’s in an ODI encounter in 2010.

The former Australia fast bowler clocked 161.1 km/h (100.1 mph) while bowling to England opening batter Craig Kieswetter in his first over. Tait was the wrecker-in-chief for Australia as he bagged four crucial wickets in the match helping the visitors secure a 42-run win.

Brett Lee - 160.8kmph (99.9mph) | Australia vs New Zealand, 2005

Brett Lee was the second bowler to come near the 100mph barrier in international cricket. The former Australia pacer recorded his fastest delivery of 160.8 km/h (99.9 mph) against New Zealand in the fifth ODI at Napier in 2005.

Lee bowled his quickest delivery to ex-Kiwi opening batter Craig Cumming in the very first over of the 50-over match. The Australia speedster ended the game with figures of 1/34 as the visitors claimed a commanding 122-run victory.

Interestingly, Lee had also clocked 161.8 km/h in a Test against the West Indies in Brisbane, Australia in the 2000-01 season. However, the Australian cricket team’s then-official broadcaster, Channel Nine accepted that their recording of 161.8 km/h was certainly a mistake.

Among active players, another Australian pacer Mitchell Starc is currently the fastest bowler in world cricket. The left-arm pacer bowled his fastest delivery of 160.4 km/h against New Zealand on the third day of the second Test at Perth in 2015.

South Africa pacer Anrich Nortje, England fast bowler Jofra Archer and New Zealand speedster Lockie Ferguson are some of Starc’s fiercest competitors in terms of pace in world cricket at the moment.

Fastest Indian bowler

Jammu and Kashmir pacer Umran Malik, who boasts of incredible bowling speeds, is the fastest Indian bowler. The young bowler clocked a 157 km/h delivery while playing for Hyderabad against Delhi during the Indian T20 League 2022. 

Umran Malik has also bowled the fastest ball in international cricket by an Indian. The right-armer sent in a searing 156 km/h ball against Pakistan during the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007.

Photo credits: Alamy

Australia left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc is currently the fastest to 200 wickets in ODI cricket.

Since making his One-Day International (ODI) debut against India at Visakhapatnam in October 2010, Mitchell Starc took 102 matches to pick up 200 wickets in the 50-over format.

Starc has now picked 200 wickets in 102 ODIs at an average of 22.31 and an economy of 5.10.

The New South Wales-born cricketer surpassed the previous record held by Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq during the third and final ODI against Zimbabwe at the Riverway Stadium in Townsville, Australia on September 3, 2022. Interestingly, Zimbabwe stunned Australia in the match to register their first-ever win over the mighty Aussies Down Under in any format of the game.

The fastest ever to 200 ODI wickets! But it was a bittersweet moment for Mitch Starc #AUSvZIM | @alintaenergy pic.twitter.com/BWSIbxFeH7

�?cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) September 4, 2022

Meanwhile, legendary Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq took 104 matches to complete 200 wickets in ODI cricket.

Having made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka at Gujranwala in September 1995, Mushtaq reached his 200 ODI wickets milestone versus South Africa in June 1999. 

Mushtaq ended his illustrious international career with 288 ODI wickets in 169 matches at an average of 21.78 and an economy of 4.29.

Former Australia cricketer Brett Lee features third on the list for the fastest to 200 wickets in ODI cricket. The legendary speedster completed his 200 ODI wickets milestone in his 112th match against arch-rivals England at The Oval in 2005.

Lee retired from international cricket with 380 ODI wickets in 221 matches at an average of 23.36 and an economy of 4.76.

Ex-South Africa fast bowler Allan Donald and Waqar Younis of Pakistan complete the top five list.

While Allan Donald reached 200 ODI wickets in 117 matches during an ODI against Zimbabwe at Chelmsford in 1999, Waqar Younis achieved the milestone in 118 matches while playing against arch-rivals India in Bengaluru in 1996.

Among Indians, former fast bowler Ajit Agarkar was the fastest to 200 wickets in ODI cricket. Agarkar took 133 matches to reach his 200 ODI wickets. It came against Bangladesh in Dhaka in 2004.

In women’s cricket, legendary India fast bowler Jhulan Goswami owns the record for being the fastest to 200 wickets in ODI cricket. She remains the only female cricketer to have bagged more than 200 wickets in the 50-over format.

Goswami has claimed 252 ODI wickets in 201 matches since making her debut against England in Chennai in 2002.

Fastest to 200 wickets in ODI cricket

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Featured photo: William WEST / AFP

Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has revealed that he is in talks with the country’s cricket board over a potential role in the organization, saying that he is ready to put his neck on the line for PCB.

As per the recent reports, the Pakistan Cricket Board is planning to remove current head coach Misbah ul Haq from his position as the chief selector, and Akhtar has been lined as a replacement.

Speaking during a YouTube show “Cricket Baaz�? Akhtar said, “I will not deny it. Yes, I have had some discussions with the board and I am interested in playing a major role in Pakistan cricket. But nothing is decided as yet.�?/span>

Misbah-ul-Haq’s dual responsibility of being the head coach as well as the chief selector has time and again been a subject of conflict, and per the new code of ethics policy (another name of Conflict of Interest), the PCB might be forced to rope in a new member in the board.

The former pacer decided not to bulge into the details, but did say that the talks are on. "Yes, there has been some discussions. I can reveal only this much but nothing concrete as yet. But talks are still on. I have not said “yes�?neither have they (PCB) said “yes�?"

"I don’t like saying this but it is a fact. Look I don’t want a job and I don’t need a salary. People want jobs and they come for salaries but I don’t need the money."

He further added that if he does get the job, he will work on creating ‘a pool of players from the new generation�?and match-winners like Wasim Akram and Javed Miandad.

“I am ready to get in the line of fire. I will do it because I want to play a role in creating a pool of players from the new generation who play with an aggressive mindset and without fear of failure.�?/span>

“We need to start having players who have the same mindset that our greats like Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram or Mushtaq Muhammad had.

“The fast bowlers should not have muscular gym-toned bodies but ones that is cricket specific. I want to have 15 players who are brands and stars and this can only be possible if they feel secure and can win matches with their performances.�?/span>

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Jewel Samad

Shoaib Akhtar is never one to shy away from giving credit where it's due when it comes to Indian cricketers, and while this understandably draws criticism from the Pakistani cricket fans, the 'Rawalpindi Express' has no qualms about his adulation for the Men in Blue, Virat Kohli in particular.

This was further evident from his words during the 'Inside Out' show on Cricket Pakistan's YouTube channel, where he said one look at the stats would exonerate him from any praise he heaps on the Indian skipper.

“I don’t know why people are angry, they should go look at the stats first before criticising me. Do they want to keep the hatred in mind, that just because he is an Indian, we will not praise him?�?said Akhtar on the show.

The 45-year-old also lauded the team structure of the Indian side, highlighting how they brought the right people to the fore, something that was once a hallmark of Pakistan.

“There was a time when Indians wanted to be like Pakistan. Now, Pakistan want to be like Indians,�?Akhtar explained. “In the late nineties, India would raise their hands that we don’t want to play in Sharjah against Pakistan.

“Our mindset was made to change by bringing average people on the top. They brought average people to be the captain of the team. Look at what India got - they made Virat Kohli the captain, an aggressive player. Who did we bring?�?Akhtar said with conviction.

From pacer to PCB?

Akhtar has reportedly been approached for the role of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) CEO - something the 45-year-old denied but also admitted that a person like him, who is 'straightforward and demands performances from the cricketers' is what the public wants.

However, what matters the most to him is that whoever the new elect is, they have the long-term betterment of the team in mind.

"Be it me or any other person, the important thing as (a) chief selector is the change in mindset �?which we desperately need. That person and the head coach need to be on the same page for the betterment of the team."

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Manan Vatsyayana

Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has questioned the ground on which the Pakistan Cricket Board announced their 20-man shortlist for the England tour, saying that "there are 22 fast bowlers in the 20-member squad."

The Pakistan Cricket Board, on Tuesday, named a 20-man shortlist of players who will be considered for their three-match Test series against England, with batsman Fawad Alam on the verge of returning after 11 years. The selection committee, headed by Misbah-ul-Haq, added two specialist spinners in Kashif Bhatti and Yasir Shah, while all-rounders Faheem Ashraf and Shadab Khan were called into action as well.

Akhtar, however, expressed his discontent to an extent that he said the board is clueless about their plans in the series. Upon being asked about his team's possible line-up in the first Test, which begins on August 5, he said, 

"That we don't know. They have announced a 20-member squad. In that twenty, there are around 22 fast bowlers. Let us see whom they select. Depends on the captain and the management, with which mindset they go in," said Akhtar on Geo Cricket.

• Read | England announce squad for first Pakistan Test

"What they want and how the pitch is? How the management sees the whole scenario. Zero idea what they are going to do. When the team list comes, you will come to know the exact mindset they are going in with. So far as we know right now, nothing," he added.

The fast bowling options Pakistan have picked for the series are Naseem Shah, Wahab Riaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Shinwari and Mohammad Abbas, while the likes of Yasir Shah, Shadab Khan and Kashif Bhatti remain their spinners.

Akhtar further questioned the management's mindset as they head into the series, while also casting doubts on Azhar Ali's captaincy. 

Former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar said he is ready to coach fast bowlers from any country -- even if an offer from arch-rivals India came his way.

In an interview with a social networking platform, the 44-year-old paceman said he wants to help produce aggressive and fast bowlers who can take on opposition batsmen no matter which country they come from.

When the presenter for the Helo app said India, Akhtar replied: "I will definitely... My job is to spread knowledge. What I have learned is knowledge and I will spread it."

The response surprised many in India because of the poor relations between the neighbours who have fought three wars since their independence and angry split in 1947.

The two countries have not played each other in a bilateral series since 2012.

Akhtar, who was known as the Rawalpindi Express in his playing days, said: "I will produce more aggressive, fast and more talkative bowlers than the current ones, who will tell-off the batsmen in a way that you will enjoy a lot."

Akhtar said he would also like to coach bowlers in the cash-rich Indian Premier League.

The bowler played in the inaugural IPL season for Kolkata Knight Riders but the Indian government banned Pakistani cricketers from the league in 2009.  

The speedster retired from international cricket in 2011 after more than a decade of controversies and glory, including the record of bowling world's fastest delivery at 100.23 miles per hour.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Jewel Samad

Shoaib Akhtar, who is arguably one of the finest bowlers Pakistan has ever produced, celebrates his 44^th birthday today.

In a career, spanning almost 15 years, Akhtar scalped 247 wickets in ODIs and 178 in Tests en route to dismantling some of the greatest batsmen who have ever graced a cricket field with his lightening fast deliveries and toe crushing Yorkers.

And as the Rawalpindi Express turns a year older, we decided to have a little quiz on him. Can you answer all these questions correctly? Test yourself.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Lakruwan Wanniarachchi

Pakistan great Shoaib Akhtar has publicly slammed captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and his teammates for an abysmal showing during their 89-run defeat to India at Old Trafford in Manchester on Sunday.

Akhtar, speaking on his YouTube channel, vent out his frustration by criticizing Sarfaraz’s decision of bowling against arguably one of the best batting teams of the sport. He explained that Pakistan had half the game in their kitty following the toss, but the captain gave away the advantage after deciding to bowl first.

“The mistakes committed by the Indian team during the Champions Trophy 2017 final were repeated by Pakistan yesterday. I can't understand how Sarfaraz can be so brainless. How could he forget that we don't chase very well?

“Knowing our strength, which is bowling, is important. The game was half-won by Pakistan when Sarfaraz won the toss, but he tried hard to lose the match. Toss was very crucial and even if Pakistan had made 260, with their bowling, they could have defended it. So I think it was just brainless captaincy.

“It's a very saddening and disheartening performance from the Pakistan team captain. I wanted to see shades of Imran Khan in him but it's too late for him now.�?/p>

Also, there was a special mention of pacer Hasan Ali, who ended his bowling tenure with a figure of 1/84 in nine overs. The 24-year-old, back in April 2018, gathered unwanted attention through his antics at the Wagah Border and Akhtar said that he needs to translate all of it to the games where it matters the spot.

“Hasan Ali, who never shies away from jumping around at the Wagah border, couldn't apply himself when it mattered the most. Many of his deliveries were short-pitched,�?Akhtar said.

“His mindset seems to be; I want to keep playing T20s and the PSL. But in the World Cup, we can see that he has not shown any pace or swing that could trouble batsmen.�?/p>

Meanwhile, Mohammad Amir, who was Pakistan’s most effective bowler against India, wasn’t barred as well. Amir dismissed Indian captain Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya and MS Dhoni, but Akhtar explained that is easy to take wickets when the opposition’s only target to hit big. He rather advised Amir to be more effective when there’s an urgency.

There were also some crunch words for Babar Azam, whose partnership with Fakhar Zaman gave India a temporary scar during the game. Akhtar mentioned that Azam, who idolize Kohli, has no trait of the Indian captain whatsoever. Backing the statement, the former bowler mentioned how cleverly Kohli manages to rotate the strikes while Azam cannot.

Even the likes of Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik were left out from the rant, and their lacklustre performances in this year’s World Cup was well and truly criticized by Akhtar.

After just a solitary win from five games, Pakistan sit ninth on the log and next face South Africa at Lord’s on June 23.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Dibyangshu Sarkar

Shoaib Akhtar, one of the finest bowlers to have played cricket, has predicted that Virat Kohli’s men have a ‘better�?chance of defeating Australia as the Men in Blue prepare to take on the defending champions at The Oval.

“India has a far better chance not because of I am just saying but I think the balance of the bowling lies with India. They have spinners, they have good fast bowlers,�?Akhtar in a video for his official YouTube channel.

 “India has more ammunition when it comes to swing when it comes to bowling when it comes to taking up the pressure. So, I think the pressure isn’t going to be on Indians tomorrow, it is going to be on Australians. I think India is going into this match as favourites because they have superior spinners than the Australians and with Shami’s addition they will become unbeatable,�?Akhtar added.

India will crush Australia in tomorrow’s match. Here is what I think about.

YouTube link: //t.co/Z4VdhQEHNN#IndiavsAustralia #CW19

�?Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) June 8, 2019

Apart from the prediction, Akhtar has mentioned one change that he would like Kohli to make against the Aussies.

“I want Shami to be in. I want the pace to be in.�?/p>

As per the sources, India are expected to go all out with three specialist seamers given the overcast conditions at The Oval. Moreover, he also spoke about the importance of India’s opening three batsmen.

“I think Indian batters, the first four batters, whenever they get runs the history tells us they win matches. Rohit Sharma goes deep down to the order and he gets runs and Indian team gets a proper platform. At the same time, him, Virat Kohli and others make a big score,�?Akhtar added.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Farooq Naeem