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Fearsome and fast, the game has seen several bowlers who’ve clearly emerged as a force to reckon with.
But while they’ve torn apart the best of batting attacks and posed great doubts at techniques of several batters, some of the most elite fast bowlers have also blunted the bats of the best in the game and risen in cricket akin to an unscheduled storm.
That said, which fast bowlers have delivered some of the fastest ever deliveries in the top flight of Test match cricket? Let’s find out:
Shoaib Akhtar - 161.3 kmph
During his pomp, Shoaib Akhtar was quite frankly, spelt peril danger for much of the world’s batters and was, in no way whatsoever, an easy customer to negotiate. He would be mostly blowing different kinds of smoke on the cricket pitch, thanks to the magic he produced with the red and white ball leaving batters confused and dazed.
But he bowled his fastest ever delivery during the days of peak fitness and finesse, which happened back in time in 2003.
Allan Donald - 155.4 kmph
Not called the white lightning for nothing, back in the day, Allan Donald was quick, fast and menacing. He held several interesting battles with the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and even Brian Lara.
But it was back in 2000 in Test cricket, as per reports, where the famous Proteas talent, bowled his personal fastest-ever delivery.
Jeff Thomson - 160.6 kmph
Back in the day, world cricket was dominated not only by the blades of Sir Sunil Gavaskar and Sir Viv Richards but also by the express pace of many fiery fast bowlers such as Sir Richard Hadlee and not to forget, Jeff Thomson.
It was five decades back in the day, circa 1975, where one of the most feared speedsters of his day, Thomson bowled the fastest-ever delivery that Test cricket has seen at that time. And it’s the year that is also revered for hosting the first ever men’s ODI World Cup.
Andy Roberts - 159.5 kmph
Fearless but fear inducing, dominant and aggressive, it really wasn’t possible for just about any cricketing mortal to stand up to Sir Andy Roberts back in the day. The celebrated West Indian tearaway fast bowler bowled in the year 1975, one of the fastest-ever deliveries in the game’s longest format.
Mitchell Johnson - 156.8 kmph
Agile, athletic and purely committed. There was so much of passion about Johnson. His noted battles with the likes of Virat Kohli and Alastair Cook further amplified his presence as one of the best ever exponents of fast bowling to have come from Australia. And it was back in the year 2013, a period of time where both India and Australia played tremendous amount of Test cricket that Mitchell Johnson bowled one of the fastest deliveries in the format, it is reported.
