Who will break Shoaib Akhtar's world record for the fastest delivery? (and when will it happen?)

[Major]

Records are meant to be broken. Saeed Anwar once held the record for highest odi score, while Afridi once held the fastest century record in ODI.

While those records were broken, we have held on to one record, which is the fastest delivery ever bowled in international cricket.

Many have came close,

Sami had crossed the 100 mile barrier only to be reported that the speed guns were not accurate.

Tait came close as he bowled really fast.

India unearthed the tyre pulling Atul Sharma, who was reported to be bowling at 170kph + in the nets and was even signed up by Rajasthan Royals.

Eventually he would vanish with Ian Pont looking for him in various places.

After that embarrassment, India has unearthed another bowler who has been reported to have bowled 164+ kph in the nets (6 kph less than Atul Sharma). The name of this bowler is Umran.

This could be true or could be false, we would never know. However, Umran Malik is expected to make his debut for India against South Africa at some point in this series.

Can he be the one to break Akhtar's record that has been held for about 19 years now?

 

[James]

It’s a matter of when not if.

Mark Wood bowled a 97MPH ball last year at Lord’s.

I think he can go even faster, but he would probably injure himself trying!

 

[NishanKonar]

Umran Malik is quick but I have doubts about his deliveries above 95 mph. Probably a case of speed gun malfunction. Just like Sami

IPL speed guns are not really that accurate

 

[cricketjoshila]

Umran Malik is quick but I have doubts about his deliveries above 95 mph. Probably a case of speed gun malfunction. Just like Sami

IPL speed guns are not really that accurate

How did you deduce that IPL speed guns are not accurate?

 

[silentkiller187]

Umran Malik is quick but I have doubts about his deliveries above 95 mph. Probably a case of speed gun malfunction. Just like Sami

IPL speed guns are not really that accurate

I would probably say the speed guns from Shoaibs era were more prone to being not accurate, im not even sure it is physically possible for a bowler to bowl any more than 95-100mph

 

[NishanKonar]

I would probably say the speed guns from Shoaibs era were more prone to being not accurate, im not even sure it is physically possible for a bowler to bowl any more than 95-100mph

Yes that's true. I always take Shoaib's 100 mph claims with a huge grain of salt - simply bcoz the technology in those days were flawed. Adam Gilchrist said the same about Brett Lee's bowling when he supposedly bowled at delivery at 99 mph. Gilchrist said that delivery did not feel that quick and he has seen Brett Lee bowling quicker in the past

I remember Javagal Srinath bowling at 93 mph in 1999 World Cup. He was never that quick - especially at that age

Its not an exact science. But anyways if Umran can bowl 90-95 mph consistently with decent control , he will be a great asset for Team India . Right now he bowls left right and center

 

[Rana]

The 2003 World Cup speed guns were not accurate IMO

However, I have seen many bowlers live in action and Shoaib Akhtar was visibly the fastest bowler of his era

 

[PakLFC]

I don't see any current bowler who is likely to break it.

 

[Kroll]

How were speed guns inaccurate in that ‘era’? This was like only 20-25 years ago, not 125 years ago lol.

Such absurd claims get bounded about.

 

[Moeey]

Don't know who breaks it but shoaib when he bowled 150 plus looked a lot quicker than overrated starc whose 161 ball is really questionable.

 

[Hitman]

Unlike other records, this one will be really hard to break. It's not about scoring runs or taking wickets.

 

[Dagestani_Eagle]

100MPH

Umran Might


But I doubt anyone in this era can consistently bowl a test spell above 150KMPH like Akhtar did in Australia

 

[Shaddy86]

According to some reports Umran has bowled 163.4 in the nets! Lol. I think India are gonna rush him in the team, get him to break the records just for the heck of having one over Shoaib Akhtar / Pakistan. I wouldn't put it past them to rig the speed guns.

 

[360 CRICKET]

IPL speed guns are not really that accurate

And what's the SOURCE for that assessment??

 

[360 CRICKET]

A Bowler is supposed to take wickets in Cricket

Competitive Hurling a ball for the speed guns can be made into a different "sport"

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Pointless. When Akhtar broke that record, he wss bowling utter filth. Worst Pakistani bowler in 2003 World Cup. Against the top teams in that group - England, India and Australia - he was less effective than even Razzaq and Afridi. Goes to show that pace alone is useless even back then

 

[ChipShot]

Pointless. When Akhtar broke that record, he wss bowling utter filth. Worst Pakistani bowler in 2003 World Cup. Against the top teams in that group - England, India and Australia - he was less effective than even Razzaq and Afridi. Goes to show that pace alone is useless even back then

Back then ODI wickets used to have life.

In today's flat-track era of ODIs, tear-away fast bowlers are far more likely to be effective than medium-fast ones (assuming both land on similar lines & lengths).

 

[TheSultan]

What people fail to realise is how difficult it is to bowl at 100mph. People don’t realise that when shoaib and Lee were approaching the 100mph they were bowling whole spells at 97-98mph and then eventually that got to 100mph (161k) for shoaib and 99 (160k) for Lee.

Shoaib’s 6fer vs NZ in 2002 nearly every delivery was 97mph+ it was soon after that he broke the 100mph barrier. In 2001 he touched 97mph sporadically a few times but didn’t look like going beyond. And the other thing people forget is shoaib and Lee used to do this in test matches too. The 160k/100mph barrier was breached after sustained periods of bowling super quick

Getting excited about someone bowling a random 97mph delivery in a t20i is laughable. There is still a long way to go to hit 100mph.

I’m not saying Umran can’t break it, he may be able to do so. But to be considered as quick as Shoaib and Lee you have to be able to display serious pace over sustained spells in test matches too not just random t20s

 

[ChipShot]

I would probably say the speed guns from Shoaibs era were more prone to being not accurate, im not even sure it is physically possible for a bowler to bowl any more than 95-100mph

Who says speed guns were not accurate? Speed guns have forever measured cars on highways, etc., and they have always been very accurate. If anything, there might have been negligible difference.

Shoaib was an enigma. He had hyper-extensive muscles (like Bumrah has) and unique action which could generate express pace.

 

[ChipShot]

What people fail to realise is how difficult it is to bowl at 100mph. People don’t realise that when shoaib and Lee were approaching the 100mph they were bowling whole spells at 97-98mph and then eventually that got to 100mph (161k) for shoaib and 99 (160k) for Lee.

Shoaib’s 6fer vs NZ in 2002 nearly every delivery was 97mph+ it was soon after that he broke the 100mph barrier. In 2001 he touched 97mph sporadically a few times but didn’t look like going beyond. And the other thing people forget is shoaib and Lee used to do this in test matches too. The 160k/100mph barrier was breached after sustained periods of bowling super quick

Getting excited about someone bowling a random 97mph delivery in a t20i is laughable. There is still a long way to go to hit 100mph.

I’m not saying Umran can’t break it, he may be able to do so. But to be considered as quick as Shoaib and Lee you have to be able to display serious pace over sustained spells in test matches too not just random t20s

I agree. Shoaib and Lee used to be consistently fast even in tests. Shoaib at twilight of his career in WC 2011 was still bowling express (150+).

Umran has age on his side. Lets see how he progresses.

 

[Major]

What people fail to realise is how difficult it is to bowl at 100mph. People don’t realise that when shoaib and Lee were approaching the 100mph they were bowling whole spells at 97-98mph and then eventually that got to 100mph (161k) for shoaib and 99 (160k) for Lee.

Shoaib’s 6fer vs NZ in 2002 nearly every delivery was 97mph+ it was soon after that he broke the 100mph barrier. In 2001 he touched 97mph sporadically a few times but didn’t look like going beyond. And the other thing people forget is shoaib and Lee used to do this in test matches too. The 160k/100mph barrier was breached after sustained periods of bowling super quick

Getting excited about someone bowling a random 97mph delivery in a t20i is laughable. There is still a long way to go to hit 100mph.

I’m not saying Umran can’t break it, he may be able to do so. But to be considered as quick as Shoaib and Lee you have to be able to display serious pace over sustained spells in test matches too not just random t20s

Nope. Doesnt mattter.

One delivery in any format crossing the benchmark set by akhtar and the record is gone.

 

[TheSultan]

Nope. Doesnt mattter.

One delivery in any format crossing the benchmark set by akhtar and the record is gone.

Obviously the record is gone ! I even said I’m not saying Umran can’t break it

 

[360 CRICKET]

Shoaib was an enigma. He had hyper-extensive muscles (like Bumrah has) and unique action which could generate express pace.

It isn't MUSCLES.

But it is JOINTS or more specifically the elbow joints that in normal limbed guys doesn't rotate beyond a point but someone who has Hyperextention in his elbow joints, it allows for a greater degree of rotation on the joint.

BTW hyperextention can also occur in KNEE joints (Something that is not desirable)

 

[silentkiller187]

How were speed guns inaccurate in that ‘era’? This was like only 20-25 years ago, not 125 years ago lol.

Such absurd claims get bounded about.

Who says speed guns were not accurate? Speed guns have forever measured cars on highways, etc., and they have always been very accurate. If anything, there might have been negligible difference.

Shoaib was an enigma. He had hyper-extensive muscles (like Bumrah has) and unique action which could generate express pace.

Well for starters there was no consistency in the way speeds are recorded, for example Aussie speed guns read speed from the hand, in New Zealand readings were based on average speed across 22 yards, Sami was clocked at 100mph how many times in the 90s/00s, are you saying those were accurate readings?