Top 10 fastest bowlers of 2018 in the Test format

#3 Jasprit Bumrah (India) - Average speed: 139 kmph

Bumrah picked up 48 wickets in 2018

Jasprit Bumrah is the most exciting bowler in the Test arena. In his maiden calendar year, he was the highest wicket-taker of the No.1 Test team in the world. He picked up 48 wickets in just 9 matches, that too at an average 21.02.

Only 15.80 % of all the deliveries bowled by him in 2018 were at a pace less than 135 kmph. While his fastest delivery clocked 153 kmph, four out of the five deliveries that he bowled ranged between 135 and 145 kmh.

In his debut year, he became the first Asian pacer to pickup five-wickets hauls in South Africa, England, and Australia in the same calendar year. While all three five-wicket hauls resulted in a victory, the one against Australia would go down in history as that gave India a 2-1 lead in the series.

Innings: 18, Overs: 379.4, Wickets: 48, Average: 21.02, Fastest: 153 kmph

---

#2 Shannon Gabriel (West Indies) - Average speed: 140.6 kmph

Shannon Gabriel

Shannon Gabriel, the West Indian pacer, recorded the best bowling figures of 2018. The Trinidadian was consistent with his pace throughout the year with nearly 90% of his deliveries reaching the batsmen at more than 135 kmph and 10.30% of all the deliveries were at more than 145 kmph.

His best performance came against Sri Lanka in the second Test at Gros Islet as he picked up a total of 13 wickets. In the first innings, he picked up five wickets and in the second innings, he took eight of the 10 Sri Lankan wickets.

Innings: 14, Overs: 189.2, Wickets: 37, Average: 19.54, Fastest: 151 kmph

---

#1 Mitchell Starc (Australia) - Average speed: 141.5 kmph

Starc's average speed in 2018 was the highest

The New South Wales fast bowler picked up 31 wickets in 2018 in 9 matches. Mitchell Starc has had his fair share of injury concerns but that did not reduce his pace. Only 5.60 % of his deliveries were under the 135 kmph mark and 17.60 % of his deliveries were above 145 kmph.

He was not his best his return from injury but his performance against South Africa in the first Test helped Australia register their only win of the series. As a result of his five-wicket haul in the first innings, the home team were bowled out for just 162 runs giving Australia a 189-run lead in the first innings. In the second innings, he picked up four wickets giving Australia a 118-run win.

Innings: 18, Overs: 320.3, Wickets: 31, Average: 33.35, Fastest: 15 kmph