There is a famous saying, “Batters win you matches, bowlers win you tournaments”.
However, in recent few decades, cricket earned a reputation as a batter’s game. With the introduction of shorter formats like the T20s and One Days, the sixes and fours drew spectators’ attention toward batters with such power-hitting prowess. Nonetheless, speedsters like Jasprit Bumrah have emerged and dominated the 22 yards and earned the title of the best fast bowler in the world.
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Having said that, in this article, we are going to discuss a list of fast bowlers and conclude who is the best fast bowler in the world.
Who is the Best Fast Bowler in the World?
There used to be a time when fast bowling was considered an art fueled by passion, angst, and fury. Before, the rise of batters as the face of cricket, this sport was dominated by fast bowlers. In the 60s, 70s, 80s, Jeff Thompson, Courtney Walsh, Andy Roberts, Dennis Lillee and many more kept the batters feeling threatened with their sky-high speeds and deadly bouncers. Then came the 90s and 2000s, the rise of pacers like Shoaib Akhtar, Brett Lee, Shaun Tait, Mitchell Johnson, and Wasim Akram who kept the reputation of fiery pacers alive.
Ahead is a list an all-time great fast bowlers. Read ahead without further ado to find out who is the best fast bowler in the world.
We have ranked top speedsters on the basis of their top speed, average speed, accuracy with the ball, wicket-taking ability, and consistency with their performance.
Top Speedsters in Cricket History (Ranked)
1 Jasprit Bumrah (India)
- Top Speed: ~153 km/h
- Wicket Taking ability: Immaculate ability (T20I: 89, Test: 205, ODI: 148)
- Average Speed: 142 km/h
- Consistency: Unmatched consistency
- Accuracy: Immense
2 Shoaib Akhtar (Pakistan)
- Top Speed: 161.3 km/h
- Average Speed: 145-150 km/h
- Accuracy: Moderate
- Wicket-taking Ability: Excellent (Test: 178, ODI: 247)
- Consistency: Good despite injury challenges.
3 Brett Lee (Australia)
- Top Speed: 161.1 km/h
- Average Speed: 145+ km/h
- Accuracy: Excellent
- Wicket-taking Ability: Outstanding (Test: 310, ODI: 380)
- Consistency: Very high
4 Jeff Thomson (Australia)
- Top Speed: 160.6 km/h
- Average Speed: 150+ km/h
- Accuracy: Moderate
- Wicket-taking Ability: High (Test: 200 wickets)
- Consistency: Moderate due to injury
5 Mitchell Starc (Australia)
- Top Speed: 160.4 km/h
- Average Speed: 145+ km/h
- Accuracy: Very good
- Wicket-taking Ability: Excellent (Test: 306, ODI: 219)
- Consistency: High
6 Shaun Tait (Australia)
- Top Speed: 161.1 km/h
- Average Speed: 150 km/h
- Accuracy: Moderate
- Wicket-taking Ability: Good (ODI: 62 wickets)
- Consistency: Inconsistent
7 Dale Steyn (South Africa)
- Top Speed: 156.2 km/h
- Average Speed: 140-145 km/h
- Accuracy: Excellent
- Wicket-taking Ability: Elite (Test: 439, ODI: 196)
- Consistency: Very high
Jasprit Bumrah the Best Fast Bowler
Now comes the question, ‘Who is the best fast bowler in the world?’ But before we answer that, one must have noticed that while India has produced one of the greatest batters in all generations. The trilogy of Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, and Virat Kohli fits best to represent the greats of ancient, middle and modern-day cricket, respectively. No Indian pacer as such has earned the reputation as the best fast bowler in the world in the past.
However, in the current cricket census, the 31-year-old Jasprit Bumrah has come up beating the notion that India can only produce great batters and spinners. Notably, Bumrah claimed the ICC Test and overall Cricketer of the Year for 2024. The Indian pacer left the likes of Pat Cummins, Travis Head, and many more to earn the coveted title despite facing numerous injuries and having missed a good chunk of international cricket.
Safe to say, Jasprit Bumrah is the best fast bowler in the world. He has come up to this rank in a generation filled with skilled batters, who are well-occupied with techniques helping them face fast-paced deliveries as well as swing. Moreover, flat pitches and shorter boundaries in modern cricket make it easier for the batters to use the pace of the bowler against them.
Nonetheless, the 31-year-old Indian pacer has time and again rescued his team from going down the line. Be it him taking the most valuable wickets in the most required times or producing early breakthroughs to put the opposition on the backfoot, Bumrah does it all.
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What makes Bumrah so effective even in the most unfavorable conditions?
Apart from his unique and unorthodox bowling action, Bumrah has an exceptional game awareness. Using the two, the India speedster has mastered the art of wicket-taking. Apart from that, Bumrah has a plethora of variations, an armory of a variety of deliveries. He can bowl fast yorkers, bouncers, and swing deliveries with great precision. Lastly, Bumrah has consistently delivered impactful spells in all conditions and against various oppositions.
In conclusion, the high-arm action, immaculate accuracy and consistency, and variety of deliveries, make Jasprit Bumrah the best fast bowler in the world.