Top 10 Fastest Ball in Cricket of All Time (Ranked 2026)

The 2026 cricketing calendar has already delivered breathtaking spells of pace, reminding fans why raw speed remains one of the most thrilling aspects of this sport. From jam-packed stadiums in international matches to fast-paced franchise leagues, fast bowlers have pushed the limits, clocked sensational speeds and unsettled even the most technically sound batters.

Over the years, only a few elite pacers have etched their names into history by consistently breaching the 155 km/h mark. From toe-crushing yorkers to sharp bouncers that whistle past helmets, the fastest deliveries showcase the perfect blend of athleticism and skill. In this article, we take a closer look at the top 10 fastest ball in cricket history, highlighting the bowlers who bowled at incredible speeds and made a long-lasting impact on the game.

Fastest Balls in Cricket History - Updated List

As the game of cricket is evolving with time, where batsmen are hitting sixes very easily and changing the course of the game, bowlers are also not behind in tackling this; bowlers can clock the high-speed balls with proper training and strength, and give neck-to-neck competition to batsmen in the game of cricket.

Who Bowled the Fastest Ball in Cricket History?

Pakistan’s fearsome bowler, Shoaib Akhtar, holds the official record for delivering a blistering 161.3 km/h thunderbolt against England during the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup. His iconic delivery remains a benchmark for raw pace and continues to inspire generations of fast bowlers aiming to break the speed barrier.

10. Mitchell Johnson | 156.8 km/h | 97.49 mph

Mitchell Johnson's performance in the 2013-14 Ashes series was one of the fiercest bowling spells in the history of this iconic series. Dismantling and terrorising the batters with his speed and swing with the red ball. Johnson was a lethal threat to the batters, especially in test cricket. He clocked his fastest delivery in the same Ashes series against the Three Lions. He bowled at a speed of 156.8 km/h on Boxing Day of the test match.

9. Umran Malik | 157 km/h | 97.55 mph

India's fast bowling sensation, Umran Malik, is one of the fastest indian bowlers of this era. The Jammu-Kashmir pacer gained attention when he bowled five consecutive deliveries at over 150 kmph during the IPL 2021 game against Delhi Capitals. Malik was also named the Emerging Player of the IPL 2022. His 97.6 mph ball is one of the fastest balls in the history of the Indian Premier League.

8. Lockie Ferguson | 157.3 km/h | 97.74 mph

New Zealand bowler Lockie Ferguson is one of the fastest bowlers of this generation. The Kiwi pacer is known for his brutal pace and speed; he is able to bowl at speeds in excess of 90 mph. Ferguson has the record for the fastest delivery for Gujarat Titans, when he clocked 157.3 in the IPL 2022 final against the Rajasthan Royals.

7. Fidel Edwards | 157.7 km/h | 97.94 mph

Fidel Edwards, with his sling action, had a promising career for the West Indies. But he was struck with injuries, and his cricketing career was cut short for that. His inconsistent performance and a poor average of just under 40 in Test cricket have prevented him from fulfilling his early potential. However, he was one of the quickest Windies pacers of his era.

He gained instant success, achieving speeds of 155 and more consistently. Edwards’s fastest ball came against South Africa, where he recorded a 157.7 km/hr delivery.

6. Andy Roberts | 159.5 km/h | 99.12 mph

Andy Roberts was one of the deadliest bowlers in world cricket. He was one of the “quartet” of West Indian fast bowlers from the mid-70s to the early 80s, the others being Michael Holding, Joel Garner, and Malcolm Marshall. Roberts was known as ‘The Jawbreaker.’ He was named this as he was too mean, too quick, and too deadly for the batters. He missed the 160 km/h mark but managed his career-best speed of 159.5 km/hr against Australia back in 1975.

5. Mitchell Starc | 160.4 km/h | 99.57 mph

Mitchell Starc is widely regarded as one of the best test bowlers in the world. He is the fastest bowler in the history of ODI cricket to reach 150 and 200 wickets. Starc’s first ball-inswing yorker to Rory Burns in the Ashes is one of his great deliveries.

Mitchell Starc has reduced his speed a bit after some injuries. The big Aussie pacer has featured on the list of the fastest ball in cricket history by bowling a delivery of 160.4 km/h against New Zealand.

4. Jeff Thomson | 160.6 km/h | 99.66 mph

Jeff Thomson, along with Dennis Lillee, created a lethal bowling pair that was one of the most terrifying in Test cricket history. Jeff’s highly effective slinging delivery action helped him pick 200 wickets in just 51 test matches for the Kangaroos.

He bowled the 4th fastest ball in cricket history, where he unleashed a shocking delivery that reached the speed of 160.6 km/h against the West Indies in 1975 at the iconic WACA, Perth.

3. Shaun Tait | 161.1 km/h | 100.14 mph

Another bowler with a sling action, Shaun Tait, had troubled a lot of batters in international cricket with his speed. In a match against England, he showcased his lethal bowling skill, which clocked in at 161.1 km/h, and it is still ranked as 3rd world fastest ball in cricket history. Craig Kieswetter was the batter to be dismissed in the very same delivery of the match.

2. Brett Lee | 161.1 km/h | 100.14 mph

Australian legend, Brett Lee, had a prolonged career of 13 years, which was sensational for a fast bowler. He made his debut against India in 1999 and was a member of the mighty Aussie side, which created nightmares for opponents from the 2000s to the 2010s.

Lee was known for his pace and the ability to swing the ball with a similar pace, which made him more lethal than others and one of the best yorker bowlers in the world. He has the record for the second-world fastest ball in cricket, which is also tied with his teammate Shaun Tait. He bowled against New Zealand at a speed of 161.1 km/h.

1. Shoaib Akhtar | 161.3 km/h | 100.23 mph

Shoaib Akhtar, one of the best Pakistani bowlers, is the fastest bowler in cricketing history. The Pakistani fast bowler with long hair and slingy action terrorised the batters with his speed. He was known to be one of the fiercest bowlers in world cricket.

Akhtar recorded the fastest ball in cricket history during the 2003 ODI World Cup in South Africa. He bowled at the staggering speed of 161.3 km/h against England. This record is nearly impossible to break in modern-day cricket. Nowadays, bowlers prefer line and length more than working on speed.