5 bowlers who can break Shoaib Akhtar's record for fastest delivery

Free-scoring batsmen delivering blistering knocks by smashing bowlers all over the ground is an exquisite sight for any cricketing fan. However, somewhere along the line, this has done a bit of injustice to the bowlers.

The game of cricket is arguably the hardest for a fast bowler. While we do appreciate their long, bounding run-ups, a number of us fail to see through it to admire their tireless industry. A common, although not entirely correct, metric to measure a fast bowler's efficiency is how fast the pacer can bowl.

Presently, the record of fastest ball in world cricket is proudly held by Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar - also recognized by his nickname ‘Rawalpindi Express’. Akhtar achieved the feat against England on February 22, 2003 in a World Cup match at Newlands, Cape Town in South Africa when he delivered a 161.3 kph (100.2 mph) thunderbolt.

On that note, let's take a look at 5 active bowlers who are capable of surpassing Shoaib Akhtar's said record.

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#5 Mark Wood

England v West Indies - ICC Cricket World Cup 2019

Mark Wood's physique as a fast bowler downplays his raw, terrifying pace. In 2015, the express bowler turned heads of selectors, allowing him a Test debut against New Zealand. In that series, the English quick continued to intimidate the batsmen with his above-90 mph bowling.

Before the start of World Cup 2019, Wood was paired with England's pace sensation Jofra Archer and the duo has turned out to be a brute force since then. In the series against Pakistan, Wood injured Imam-ul-Haq on the left arm in a match and the Pakistani southpaw had to depart immediately for hospital treatment and an X-ray.

Despite being bogged down with injuries sporadically, Wood continues to be a key component of the England bowling lineup. Maybe if the 29-year-old can maintain his fitness, we might see him dethrone Shoaib Akhtar someday.

#4 Lockie Ferguson

New Zealand v Bangladesh - ODI Game 2

Prior to the start of World Cup 2019, Lockie Ferguson had the highest average speed in One Day Internationals this year. Ferguson isn't really a big swinger of the ball, but it's his searing pace that helps him unsettle the batsmen.

He has been a tough nut to crack in the ongoing World Cup having already bagged 14 wickets in just 5 matches at an impressive average, and with a miserly economy rate to boot.

Injuries are part and parcel of a fast bowler's career and the Kiwi pacer has also had a fair share of them. While playing on domestic grounds in 2012-13, Ferguson suffered a career-threatening foot injury. However, he has come through really well.

Since recovering, he has consistently bowled over 145 kph and topped 150 kph mark on several occasions. Possibly a budding Shane Bond successor?

#3 Kagiso Rabada

South Africa v Pakistan - 4th Momentum One Day International

Kagiso Rabada set tongues wagging with his emergence in the international cricket. He has been a valuable asset for the South African cricket team, making his presence felt whenever a clutch situation arises.

Last year by January, he had topped both the ICC ODI bowler rankings and the ICC Test bowler rankings at a tender age of 22! He is also the youngest bowler to claim 150 scalps in Tests and was declared the best young player in the world by Wisden in August 2018.

For Rabada, bowling in the range of 140-150 kph is a mere norm. In the recently-concluded edition of IPL, the South African was plying his trade for Delhi Capitals. Out of the 10 fastest balls bowled in IPL 2019, 5 of them were bowled by Kagiso Rabada and his 154.23 kph thunderbolt topped the charts.

#2 Jofra Archer

England v Sri Lanka - ICC Cricket World Cup 2019

Back in 2013, even when he hadn't really burst onto the scene and was busy knocking himself out for West Indies Under-19s, Archer somehow mustered the courage to tweet: "All batsmen buy 2 helmets cause went we meet they will be in use .."

There's no denying that the Barbados-born quick has extraordinary talent. Perhaps it was this immense talent that urged the ECB to slash their residency requirements to three years, thus making Archer eligible to become an England player in 2019. If anything, this goes on to show his untold importance for England's World Cup plans.

In the recent encounter against Bangladesh, Archer clocked an average speed of 146 kph. His fastest ball in the ongoing World Cup has touched 153 kph. In IPL 2018, 5 of the 10 fastest balls were bowled by Jofra Archer and he also held the crown for the fastest ball that clocked at 152.39 kph. With him only 24 years old and at the peak of his powers, it only seems a matter of time before he tops Shoaib Akhtar for the fastest delivery bowled.

#1 Mitchell Starc

Australia v West Indies - ICC Cricket World Cup 2019

Presently, Starc is recognized as the fastest active bowler, having stamped his authority with a scorching delivery against New Zealand.

On 15 November 2015, the Australian paceman delivered a piercing yorker to Ross Taylor, which was the fastest recorded delivery in the Test format. Starc missed the 100-mile mark by a whisker as the ball ended up at 99.68 kph. Courtesy of that, he became the fifth bowler to bowl in excess of 160 kph mark.

This exploit came shortly after his series of phenomenal performances in the 2015 Cricket World Cup where he was adjudged the Man of the Tournament being the leading wicket-taker with 22 wickets at an average of 10 and an economy rate of 3.5. In the ongoing World Cup, he is the joint-highest wicket-taker along with England's Jofra Archer, both of whom are tied at 15 wickets.