No, Mohammed Siraj did not break Shoaib Akhtar’s record for the fastest ball in cricket. A technical malfunction during the second India-Australia Test match at the Adelaide Oval led to an erroneous display of 181.6 km/h (112.8 mph) for one of Siraj’s deliveries.
The speed shown on the broadcast was widely recognized as a mistake by viewers, as Siraj’s actual delivery was much slower and hit for four by Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne.
The incident, which occurred in the 25th over of Australia’s innings, sparked a wave of amusement and confusion on social media, as fans noticed the discrepancy between the speed displayed and the actual delivery. While the speed gun error made it appear as if Siraj had bowled an improbable delivery 20 km/h faster than the current record, it was clear that the display was a technical glitch.
The current record for the fastest ball in cricket remains held by Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar, who bowled a blistering 161.3 km/h (100.23 mph) delivery during the 2003 World Cup. Other fast bowlers, including Australia’s Brett Lee and Shaun Tait, have come close, reaching speeds of 161.1 km/h (100.1 mph), but Akhtar’s record still stands.
Despite the error, Siraj’s delivery speed remains impressive, though it falls well short of Akhtar’s world record. The hunt for the fastest ball in cricket continues, with Akhtar’s remarkable 2003 delivery still holding the title after over two decades.
