Cricket has witnessed several lightning fast pacers in the past, however, the record for the fastest ball ever bowled in the history of the sport belongs to former Pakistan fast bowler, Shoaib Akhtar.
Shoaib Akhtar achieved the unique milestone during the 2003 ODI World Cup where he bowled a thunderous delivery that clocked a speed of 161.3 km/h (100.23 mph). Akhtar’s delivery left the English left handed batsman Nick Knight flabbergasted as he was left unbeaten.
Since then, This record has since become a cornerstone in the history of cricket, with no pacer yet surpassing this unrealistic speed.
The Context of the Historic Delivery
Shoaib Akhtar bagged the title of the fastest bowler in the world during the group stage match of the World Cup on February 22, 2003. Akhtar, a.k.a, the ‘Rawalpindi Express’ is renowned to be one of the most fearsome bowlers of his era.
His raw pace and aggressive bowling style made him a key squad member for Pakistan. Akhtar’s striking ability to bowl toe-crushing yorkers in tense match conditions gave the opposition nightmares, a claim made by several star batsmen.
While Akhtar had consistently bowled at speeds exceeding 150 km/h, the ball that clocked the speed of 161.3 km/h remains one of his crowning achievements.
Bowlers who almost matched Shoaib's accomplishment: Competitors for the record
Over the course of time, several bowlers came close to Shoaib Akhtar's record of fastest speed, but none of them could break his record. One of them was Australia's greatest pacer Brett Lee, who consistently clocked the bowling speed of 150-160 km/h during his career. Lee's fastest recorded delivery reached 161.1 km/h (100.1 mph), just 0.2 km/h short of Akhtar's unmatched mark.
Another Aussie speedster, Shaun Tait, came close to Akhtar’s record. Tait’s fastest delivery was also recorded at a speed of 161.1 km/h, similar to that of Brett Lee.
The modern day pacer Mitchell Starc, recently recorded the fastest ball of his career at 160.4 km/h during a Test match against New Zealand in 2015. The remarkable seamer was slightly below Akhtar's record, and proved that the new age bowlers are also in for a tough battle going ahead.
Can Shoaib Akhtar's record be Broken?
In a dynamic sport like cricket where time and again new pacers break into the scene, there is always a chance that Shoaib Akhtar’s record could eventually be broken. Cricket has always been one of the most unpredictable games, where the most unrealistic records are created.
However, with advancements in the players’ fitness and technology, bowling invariably at a speed of over 160 km/h is a rare feat that only a handful of seamers have come close to achieving.
As of now, the Pakistan based pacer, Shoaib Akhtar's 161.3 km/h delivery stands as the fastest ball ever bowled in cricket. The delivery is a proof of his exceptional skill and has established a standard for future fast bowlers.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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