Bowling quickly is not for everyone. Bowling at a fast speed is not easy since it demands devotion, determination, discipline, effort, and, most importantly, extreme fitness. In today’s world, when most laws favour hitters, learning the technique of fast bowling may not be an appealing alternative. Other quicks, on the other hand, have gained notice to themselves only because of their jaw-dropping performances.
With their outstanding form and technique, these speedsters have taken the world of cricket by storm. These fast bowlers have performed well on the big stage with their inswingers, offcutters, bouncers, and yorkers. They now offer a significant danger to hitters because to their speed and accuracy, as well as constant line and length.
Indeed, quick bowlers are vulnerable to injury. Despite their ups and downs, some of them have continued to give their all in order to earn legendary status in the gentleman’s game.
These are five speedsters that are now ruling the world circuit.
Number 5. Josh Hazlewood
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In international cricket, Josh Hazlewood is recognised for his controlled bowling. He has the ability to hit a consistent line and length with speed. He has plagued hitters but while leading Australia to victory. In 2010, the lanky bowler earned his international debut. After making his Test debut against India in 2014, he quickly became a vital member of the squad.
With 12 wickets in three Border-Gavaskar Trophy matches in 2014-15, Hazlewood earned the trust of the squad management. He was also a key player of Australia’s One-Day International squad for the 2015 World Cup in Australia. In his country’s sixth World Cup victory, he contributed seven wickets in five matches with an economy rate of 4.10.
The veteran is now vital for Australia in all three forms. After watching his great performances with the ball for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the 14th season of the cash-rich Indian Premier League, Australia trusted him for T20Is in 2021. (IPL). With 11 wickets in seven matches at an economy of 7.29, the bowler also helped his side win its first T20 World Cup championship in 2021.
Number 4. James Anderson
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James Anderson is deserving of praise for his determination, fitness, longevity, and excellence. With his sensational bowling skills, he is conquering Test cricket at the age of 41. With his control and stroke, he easily dominates hitters with the ball. Year after year, his results in the sport’s longest form improve.
The renowned English bowler has over 1,000 wickets in his stellar international career. He has taken 969 wickets for England in 391 appearances, at an average of 26.94. With 682 wickets in 178 Test outings, the speedster is also England’s most wicket-taker.
With his skill and expertise, he is brilliantly directing England’s bowling assault. His bowling statistics over the previous three years have been fantastic. He took 75 wickets in 21 matches in 2021 and 2022, and with these continuous good stats, he is demonstrating that age is only a number.
Number 3. Kagiso Rabada
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Kagiso Rabada is one of the best bowlers in world cricket. He made his international debut in 2014, and the following year, he helped South Africa win an ODI series in India. With 10 wickets in five games against the hosts, he surpassed experienced pacer Dale Steyn as the competition’s leading wicket-taker.
Rabada had his best Test numbers (13/144) against England in Centurion in January 2016. During South Africa’s 2021 tour of Pakistan, the Protea bowler became the seventh South African bowler to dismiss 200 batsmen in Test cricket. He became the first South African bowler to get a hat-trick in T20Is in November 2021.
He has has 461 wickets in 200 international matches to his name. With these incredible records and bowling stats, he is the finest in the industry. His involvement will be critical for South Africa’s success in the international arena in the next years.
Number 2. Shaheen Shah Afridi
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Pakistan is a factory that never runs out of quick bowlers. Pakistan has produced a number of international fast bowlers. Sarfaraz Nawaz, Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Zahid, and Umar Gul dominated the international circuit with their outstanding performances. Pakistan has just acquired Shaheen Afridi, whose quick bowling has the potential to raise their cricketing levels.
Because of his exceptional bowling abilities, the boy is now an essential element in all aspects of the sport. Pakistan has earned victory against top teams in recent years, thanks to his outstanding performances. He was instrumental in Pakistan’s first ODI series victory against Australia in 20 years in 2022. Previously, Afridi helped Pakistan win their first World Cup against India in the 2021 T20 World Cup.
With these outstanding performances, he has established himself as one of the most dangerous fast bowlers on the world stage. His ability to continuously exceed 140 km/h with variations makes him devastating versus batters. With his toe-crushing yorkers, he is particularly devastating with the new ball. Throughout the first five years of his international career, the 22-year-old has taken 219 wickets in 104 matches for Pakistan, with an economy rate of 4.18.
Number 1. Mohammed Shami
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Mohammad Shami is now one of the world’s most underappreciated bowlers. Despite setting great records for India in international cricket with his quickness and talent, he has received far too little praise. Shami was India’s bowling attack’s captain before to the rise of Jasprit Bumrah.
Shami excellently led India’s bowling line at the 2015 World Cup, taking up 17 wickets in seven matches at a solid economy of 4.81. At the 2019 World Cup, he also bowled a hat-trick against Afghanistan, becoming just the second Indian bowler to do so.
In 2021, he became the sixth Indian fast bowler to record 200 Test wickets, becoming the fifth Indian fast bowler to do so. Shami has trapped 406 hitters with his pace in 172 games throughout his excellent 10-year career, with an economy of 4.10.
