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Bowling speeds - Eddie's list

The list below is provided thanks to the efforts of Eddie Smith, who has been tabulating bowling speeds reported in the media and by his own direct observation over the last few years.

Eddie writes:-
"At first I was a little guarded about sharing 'THE LIST' with others, but the monster has grown out of control. Only a few bowlers in international cricket are capable of bowling over 150 kph (93.2mph), and this is probably the benchmark of a genuine express bowler. However anything over 140kmh (87mph) should be considered fast. Here's some figures to ponder over. I've kept track of some of the fastest balls bowled by certain bowlers." If you've got any other times to add, or update please contact Eddie.

Note: We do not put this forward as an authorative or complete list. As far as we know there have been no systematic efforts to calibrate or compare measurement methods, and the following should be looked upon as a rough guide. Modern methods of measurement became popular in about 1998, and this list thus only includes more recent bowlers. Last updated April 2002 - thanks to all who contributed corrections and updates.





150kph And Above (Express Pacemen)
Player              Speed (kph)    Source/ date
Shoaib Akhtar(PAK)  161   & 160    v NZ 27/4/2002
                    159.9          v NZ 21/4/2002
                    159.5 & 157.4  v SL 12/4/2002
                    159.0 & 158.4  v SL 17/4/2002
                    157.2          v Aus 9/6/2001
                    156            v RSA 29/3/2000 
                    154.5          Fastest ball, World Cup '99
                    158.4          During practice 12/2000
B Lee  (AUS)        157.4 & 157.3  v RSA 8/3/02
                    156.2          v RSA 2nd Test 3/02
                    156            v RSA 4/2000, achieved twice 
                    154.8          Fastest ball 1999/00 in Aus'
                    154.6          v NZ 11/1/02, f/b 2001/2 in Aus
                    154.5          v NZ 30/11/01 fastest since 4/2000
                    152.4          v Eng 4th Test Ashes 2001
                    150.0          Fastest ball 2000/1 in Aus'
                    148            19 Years Old at AIS
M Hayward (RSA)     154.4          v Ind 3/11/01
                    154.3          v Aus 28/12/01
                    151            v Eng 10/12/99 
JN Gillespie (AUS)  153.9          v RSA 6/4/02
                    151.0          v RSA 3/4/02
                    149.7          v NZ 30/11/00
                    149.1          v Ind 20/3/2001 
                    148.9          v RSA 22/1/02
                    148.7          v WI 12/2000 
Waqar Younis (PK)   153            v RSA July 1993 
                    152.6          v Eng 1996
                    147.4          v Eng 17/6/01
AA Donald (RSA)     152.9          v Eng 27/7/98 'Atherton Spell'
                    149            v Ind 1998
                    142.2          v NZ 1/2/02
M Ntini (RSA)       151.4          v Aus 22/2/02
                    149.7          v NZ 1/2/02
                    147.2          v Aus 3/2/02
                    147.1          v NZ 27/1/02
                    147            v SL 2000/1
SE Bond  (NZ)       151.2          v AUS 26/1/02
                    148.2          v Aus 17/1/02
                    147.6          v Aus 11/1/02
                    146.2          v Aus 1/12/01
D Gough (ENG)       151            1st Final SCG 98/99
                    149.8          v Zim 1st Test 2000
                    149            5/1/1999
                    146.3          v Aus 10/6/01

145kph(90mph) to 150kph (Genuine Speedsters)
J Srinath (IND)     149.6          v Aus 1998 in India
                    149.6          5/6/1999 2nd to Shoaib in W'Cup
CEW Silverwood(ENG) 149.6          v SA 9/12/99 
                    146.5          v SA 10/12/1999
Mohammad Sami (PAK) 148.8          v NZ 12/4/01
                    148.5          v NZ 15/4/01
                    147.4          v SL 8/4/01
M Ngam (RSA)        148.3          v SL 12/2000 
                    147.5          on debut v NZ 12/2000
                    150            (approx, SA domestic 00)
R Telemachus (RSA)  148.3          v Eng 11/10/2000
                    142.7          v Aus 7/2000 
CRD Fernando (SL)   148            v RSA (Cricinfo story 30/1/01)
                    147            v SA 26/12/2000 
                    147.5          v NZ 20/7/01
JH Kallis (RSA)     147.6          v SL 2000 2nd Test 
                    146.4          18/6/1999 World Cup
                    144.5          v Aus   /4/02
                    141            v SL 4/1/01 
A Razzaq (Pak)      147.2          v Eng 19/5/2001
                    140            1998, 20 years old 
DW Headley (ENG)    147            Jan 5 1999 (Retired)
                    145            v NZ 23/7/1999 
AB Agarkar (IND)    147            unconfirmed, Aus 99
                    145.4          v Zim 13/3/02
                    143.7          v Zim 15-19/6/01
GI Allott (NZ)      146.5          1999 World Cup (Retired)
CL Cairns (NZ)      146.4          v Eng, 20/8/1999
FA Rose (WI)        146.4          v Eng, 26/6/2000
A Flintoff (Eng)    146.1          v Ind 20/12/01
BA Williams (AUS)   146            v NSW 99'(Aus domestic)
                    142.6          v NZ 11/1/02 (Debut)
Wasim Akram(PAK)    145            1993 in SA
C White (ENG)       145            v WI 4/8/2000
                    143.6          v WI 2/9/2000
RD King (WI)        145            v Eng 2000 unconfirmed 
                    143.2          v 15/7/2000 Vs Eng
GD McGrath (AUS)    145            v Pak 20/7/1999
                    143.7          v RSA 3/2/02
                    142.9          v NZ 26/1/02
                    142.3          v Zim 4/2/01
                    141.6          v India 1998,
CK Langeveldt       145            v EP 29/3/01 (RSA Domestic)
                    135.3          v Aus 20/1/02
CEL Stuart (WI)     145            v Zim 22/7/01
                    144.1          v Aus MCG 3/1/01
Zaheer Kahn (IND)   145.0          v Zim 21/2/02
                    143.8          ICC ODIs in Kenya 2000
                    142            v Aus 11/3/01

140kph to 145kph (Qualified Fast Men)
S Elworthy (RSA)    144.4          v Aus 20/1/02
                    143.3          v NZ  19/1/02
MI Black (WI)       144            v Ind 19/4/02
                    142            v Aus 24/11/1999 
                    142            v Zim 29/7/01
NAM McLean (WI)     143.8          v Aus 14/1/01
AJ Bichel (Aus)     143.7          v WI 9/1/01
                    143.3          v RSA 3/2/02             
Mohammad Zahid (PAK)143            1998, Fastest on record
SM Pollock (RSA)    143            v Eng 9/12/99
RAP Nissanka (SL)   143            v Pak 10/01
S Watson (Aus)      142.9          v RSA   /4/02
AR Caddick (ENG)    142.6          v Aus 21/6/2001
A Adams (NZ)        142.2          v Aus 29/1/02
D Pretorius (RSA)   142.2          v Aus 8/3/02
DW Fleming (AUS)    142.1          v WI 9/11/01
                    144            Dec 99 in Aus
J Ormond (ENG)      142.1          v Aus 23/8/01 (on debut)
S Lee (AUS)         142            v RSA 16/4/2000
DJ Nash (NZ)        141.6          v Eng 5/8/1999
                    141.6          v Aus 29/1/02
AJ Tudor (ENG)      141.6          v Aus Sydney 98/1999
DG Cork (ENG)       141.6          v SL 31 Aug 98
CS Martin (NZ)      141.4          v Aus 1/12/01
A Sanford (WI)      141.0          v Ind 13/4/02
M Dillon (WI)       141.0          v Ind 13/4/02
                    140            v Ind 28/10/98 Willis Cup
A Nehra (Ind)       141            v WI  21/4/02
CA Walsh (WI)       140            v Eng 8/8/2000 (Retired)
CEL Ambrose (WI)    140            v Eng 8/8/2000 (Retired)
                    140            v Pak 1992/93 in Sharjah.
AM Blignaut(Zim)    140            v WI 28/7/01
TJ Friend (Zim)     140            v Eng 29/9/01
HH Streak (Zim)     140            v Eng 2/10/01




Fastest Balls of 2002 (last update 22/4/02)

Shoaib Akhtar(PAK)  161            v NZ  27/4/02
                    159.9          v NZ  21/4/02
                    159.5          v SL  12/4/02
                    159.0          v SL  17/4/02
                    156.7          v NZ  24/4/02
                    156.2          v SL  8/4/02
                    154.9          v NZ  11/4/02
B Lee  (AUS)        157.4          v RSA 8/3/02
                    156.2          v RSA 2nd Test, Day 1
                    154.6          v NZ  11/1/02
JN Gillespie (AUS)  153.9          v RSA 6/4/02
                    151.0          v RSA 3/4/02
                    148.9          v RSA 22/1/02
                    148.5          v NZ  26/1/02
M Ntini (RSA)       151.4          v Aus 22/2/02
                    149.7          v NZ  1/2/02
SE Bond  (NZ)       151.2          v Aus 26/1/02
                    148.2          v Aus 17/1/02


IG Butler (NZ)      146.7          v SL  9/4/02
                    140.0          v Eng 22/3/02   
M Hayward (RSA)     145.7          v Aus 3/4/02
AB Agarkar (IND)    145.4          v Zim 13/3/02
                    144.6          v Zim 16/3/02
Zaheer Kahn (IND)   145.0          v Zim 21/2/02


JH Kallis (RSA)     144.5          v Aus   /4/02
                    143.0          v Aus 6/4/02
                    141.5          v Aus 22/2/02
S Elworthy (RSA)    144.4          v Aus 20/1/02
                    143.3          v NZ  19/1/02
D Gough (ENG)       144.0          v Ind 31/1/02
                    142.7          v Ind 27/1/02
MI Black (WI)       144            v Ind 19/4/02
GD McGrath (AUS)    143.7          v RSA 3/2/02
                    142.9          v NZ  26/1/02
AJ Bichel (AUS)     143.3          v RSA 3/2/02
                    141.6          v NZ  26/1/02
Waqar Younis (PK)   143.1          v NZ  11/4/02
                    141.4          v SL  17/4/02
S Watson (Aus)      142.9          v RSA   /4/02
BA Williams (AUS)   142.6          v NZ  11/1/02 (Debut)
A Adams (NZ)        142.2          v Aus 29/1/02
                    139.9          v Aus 29/1/02
AA Donald (RSA)     142.2          v NZ  1/2/02
                    140.7          v NZ  27/1/02
D Pretorius (RSA)   142.2          v Aus 8/3/02
A Flintoff (Eng)    142.1          v Ind 3/2/02
DJ Nash (NZ)        141.6          v Aus 29/1/02
                    141.5          v Aus 29/1/02
A Nehra (Ind)       141            v WI  21/4/02
A Sanford (WI)      141.0          v Ind 13/4/02
M Dillon (WI)       141.0          v Ind 13/4/02



Womens Cricket

Catherine Fitzpatrick of Australia has been credited with a speed of 120kmh (ref: CricInfo article 96/97)

The following speeds were measured at the WACA Dec 1975, using by "very accurate high speed cameras" and reported in 'The Art of Fast Bowling' By D.K. Lillee pp 27-30.

JR Thomson  160.45  also 159.49 
AME Roberts 150.67 
MA Holding  148.54  (aged 22 at the time)
DK Lillee   139.03  (sick at the time)

Other reports

Lance Klusener of South Africa was timed at 154kph verses India in 96/97. At that time early in Lance's career, he was said to be every bit as quick as Alan Donald. The ball in question was struck for six and receives a mention in Mark Waugh's book. Klusener has since adapted to become a slow/medium 120kph bowler with a faster ball around the 136kph mark. In Perth W.A on 2/2/2001, Cameron Cuffy from the West Indies was timed at 150.9kph in a fast bowling competition against local bowlers. Early in his career Cuffy was considered a young tearaway fast-man but due to injuries Cuffy has made a conscious decision to slow down and consistently bowl around the 130kph mark.

"The Fast Men" By David Frith - Corgi Books 1977, p114. Rates Harold Larwood as possibly the fastest bowler of all time and quotes a recorded speed of 96mph (154.46 kph), although it is not clear how this speed was obtained.

The same book says that Frank Tyson and Statham were timed in Wellington, 1955 at just under 90 mph (145 kph). Tyson himself said of this:- "We were measured at the NZ Aeronautical College in Wellington in 1955. A metal plate was attached to a ball, which was then bowled through a sonic beam. It produced a whistle, which was measured and then the speed was worked out according to the distance covered and the length of the whistle. I was measured at 89mph and Statham at 87mph. We bowled in two or three sweaters, and I cannot vouch for the length of our run-ups." [full article]

At Tyson's fastest, he's said to be as fast as any bowler ever.

Colin Croft states that himself and Michael Holding were both timed at 97 mph (156 kph), although we have no further details.

1976 Study

JR Thomson  99.8 mph (160.57 kph)
AME Roberts 97.8 mph (157.36 kph)
DK Lillee   96.2 mph (154.78 kph)
MA Holding  95.2 mph (153.17 kph)
WW Daniel   93.7 mph (150.76 kph)
RGD Willis  90.7 mph (145.93 kph)
A Ward      86.5 mph (139.17 kph)
JA Snow     86.2 mph (138.69 kph)

1979 measurements

A study was made by Dr. Frank Pyke of the University of Western Australia, Perth. The single fastest ball in an eight ball over bowled is listed (measured we believe in net conditions).

JR Thomson      91.86 mph (147.9 kph)
MA Holding      87.76 mph (141.3 kph)
Imran Khan      86.77 mph (139.7 kph)
CEL Croft       86.45 mph (139.2 kph)
AME Roberts     86.08 mph (138.6 kph)
DK Lillee       84.72 mph (136.4 kph)
GS Le Roux      84.46 mph (135.9 kph)
WW Daniel       82.91 mph (133.5 kph)
LS Pascoe       81.73 mph (131.6 kph)
RJ Hadlee       80.62 mph (129.8 kph)
MJ Procter      79.87 mph (128.6 kph)
Sarfraz Nawaz   75.63 mph (121.7 kph)

The following speeds were cited in The West Australian Newspaper May 2000, as historical speeds. No further information was attached. Alan Donald 155.4kph, Devon Malcolm 156.1kph.

Results from the fastest bowler Competition at the testimonial match for Courtney Walsh, 20/7/1998. Devon Malcolm (winner) 141.6kph, Franklyn Rose 141.6kph, Andy Caddick 140kph, Nixon McLean 138.4kph, Ed Giddins 138.4kph, Courtney Walsh 133.5kph, Ian Bishop 133.5kph, David Lawrence 125.5kph.

kph/mph conversion based on rounded figures

1.609 km =1 mile
130 kph = 80.8 mph
137 kph = 85. 1mph
140 kph = 87.0 mph 
145 kph = 90.1 mph
148 kph = 92 mph
150 kph = 93.2 mph 
153 kph = 95.1 mph
155 kph = 96.33  mph
158 kph = 98.2 mph 
160.9 kph = 100 mph 
 
 


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Date-stamped : 29 Apr2002 - 02:25