Mitchell Starc delivered a ball to Ross Taylor today at 160.4kph, making him one of only five players to bowl a ball above the 160kph mark.
The searing spell ignited a WACA crowd in a somewhat batsmen-dominated innings by New Zealand. Having a catch dropped in the previous over the fired up Starc was relentless in his approach to dismiss either Taylor or McCullum.
The 160.4kph ball was a perfectly executed yorker. It was a true toe crusher had it connected with Taylor’s foot. Starc is known for his ability with the white ball but in the series to date and in that spell he is showing his ability extends beyond the shorter forms.
He has been one of Australia’s best bowlers in this series and has stamped himself as a true speed demon.
The fastest deliveries in world cricket now stand as follows:
5. Mitchell Starc 160.4 kph (Australia versus New Zealand 2015 , WACA)
4. Jeff Thomson 160.6 kph (Fast Bowling study at the WACA, 1976)
3. Brett Lee 161.1 kph (Australia versus New Zealand 2005, Napier)
2. Shaun Tait 161.1 kph (Australia versus England 2010, Lord’s)
1. Shoaib Ahktar 161.3 kph (Pakistan versus England 2003, Newlands)
Despite these recorded results there is argument that some bowlers are in fact quicker than recorded, Michael Holding said that if the record is 161.3 then Jeff Thomson was at least 10 per cent faster. There are also others that argue that Thomson was the fastest ever, but played in an era where speed guns were not used as they are today.
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