Bowling Speed Converter
Convert bowling speed between km/h and mph instantly. See what pace category a delivery falls into and compare with the fastest bowlers in cricket history.
Why Bowling Speed Matters
Bowling speed is a critical factor in cricket. Faster deliveries give batters less time to react, making express pace one of the most prized assets in the sport. The difference between 140 km/h and 150 km/h may seem small, but it reduces a batter's reaction time by roughly 0.03 seconds — enough to beat the best in the world. Speed guns at international venues measure in km/h, while some broadcasts (especially in the US and UK) display mph, making conversion essential for cricket fans worldwide.
Bowling Speed Converter
Converts to mph
Pace Categories in Cricket
| Category | Speed Range | Famous Bowlers |
|---|---|---|
| Express Pace | 150+ km/h | Shoaib Akhtar, Mitchell Starc, Jasprit Bumrah, Anrich Nortje |
| Genuine Fast | 140-150 km/h | Mitchell Starc, Jofra Archer, Pat Cummins, Kagiso Rabada |
| Fast-Medium | 130-140 km/h | Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Trent Boult, Josh Hazlewood |
| Medium-Fast | 120-130 km/h | Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Chris Woakes, Shardul Thakur |
| Medium | 110-120 km/h | Hardik Pandya, Marcus Stoinis, Sam Curran, Ravindra Jadeja |
| Slow / Spin | Below 110 km/h | Rashid Khan, Yuzvendra Chahal, R Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav |
Top 10 Fastest Deliveries in Cricket History
| # | Bowler | km/h | mph | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shoaib Akhtar(PAK) | 161.3 | 100.2 | vs England, 2003 World Cup |
| 2 | Shaun Tait(AUS) | 161.1 | 100.1 | vs England, 2010 |
| 3 | Brett Lee(AUS) | 161.1 | 100.1 | vs New Zealand, 2005 |
| 4 | Jeff Thomson(AUS) | 160.6 | 99.8 | vs West Indies, 1975 |
| 5 | Mitchell Starc(AUS) | 160.4 | 99.7 | vs NZ, 2015 WC Final |
| 6 | Umran Malik(IND) | 157 | 97.6 | IPL 2022 |
| 7 | Anrich Nortje(SA) | 156.2 | 97.1 | IPL 2020 |
| 8 | Mark Wood(ENG) | 155.7 | 96.7 | vs Australia, Ashes 2023 |
| 9 | Jasprit Bumrah(IND) | 153.3 | 95.3 | vs England, 2022 |
| 10 | Jofra Archer(ENG) | 152.4 | 94.7 | vs Australia, Ashes 2019 |
IPL 2026 Fastest Balls
Fastest deliveries bowled in IPL 2026 season so far.
| # | Bowler | Team | km/h | mph | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anrich Nortje | DC | 155.8 | 96.8 | DC vs MI, Match 2 |
| 2 | Jasprit Bumrah | MI | 152.1 | 94.5 | MI vs RCB, Match 7 |
| 3 | Lockie Ferguson | KKR | 151.6 | 94.2 | KKR vs SRH, Match 3 |
| 4 | Mayank Yadav | LSG | 151.2 | 93.9 | LSG vs CSK, Match 5 |
| 5 | Umran Malik | SRH | 150.4 | 93.5 | SRH vs GT, Match 4 |
How Is Bowling Speed Measured in Cricket?
Bowling speed in cricket is measured using radar speed guns positioned at both ends of the pitch. The speed gun captures the ball's velocity at the point of release from the bowler's hand. Modern international venues use Hawk-Eye and similar ball-tracking technologies that provide precise speed readings for every delivery.
The standard unit used in international cricket broadcasts is km/h (kilometres per hour), while some countries — particularly the United States and United Kingdom — prefer mph (miles per hour). The conversion factor is straightforward: 1 mile equals approximately 1.60934 kilometres.
The Conversion Formula
Speed (mph) = Speed (km/h) ÷ 1.60934
Speed (km/h) = Speed (mph) × 1.60934
Worked Example
Jasprit Bumrah bowls a delivery clocked at 150 km/h. To convert to mph:
- Speed = 150 ÷ 1.60934
- Speed = 93.2 mph
This puts Bumrah's delivery in the "Express Pace" category — the same bracket as legendary fast bowlers like Shoaib Akhtar and Brett Lee.
The Science of Fast Bowling: What Makes a Bowler Fast?
Fast bowling is a combination of biomechanics, fitness, and technique. The fastest bowlers in cricket history share several characteristics: a long run-up that builds momentum, a high arm action that creates a steep angle of release, strong core muscles that transfer energy from the lower body through the trunk and into the bowling arm, and flexible shoulder joints that allow a fast arm speed.
Research has shown that bowling speed is heavily influenced by the speed of the bowling arm at the point of release, the length and speed of the run-up, and the efficiency of the energy transfer chain from feet to fingertips. Bowlers like Shoaib Akhtar (161.3 km/h) and Mitchell Starc (160.4 km/h) combine all these factors to generate speeds that give batters less than 0.4 seconds to react.
At 150 km/h, the ball reaches the batter in approximately 0.44 seconds. At 160 km/h, that drops to about 0.41 seconds. This tiny difference is the gap between a batter being comfortable and being completely beaten for pace.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest ball ever bowled in cricket?⌄
How do you convert km/h to mph for bowling speed?⌄
What speed is considered fast bowling in cricket?⌄
Who is the fastest bowler in IPL history?⌄
What is the difference between fast, medium-fast, and medium bowling?⌄
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About This Bowling Speed Converter
The CricJosh Bowling Speed Converter is a free, instant tool for cricket fans, players, and coaches who want to quickly convert bowling speeds between km/h and mph. Whether you are watching an IPL match and see a speed in km/h but think in mph, or comparing bowling speeds across different cricket broadcasts, this tool gives you accurate conversions in seconds along with pace category classification and famous bowler comparisons.
Understanding bowling speed helps you appreciate the skill gap between different types of bowlers. The difference between a 130 km/h fast-medium delivery and a 155 km/h express delivery is massive in terms of batter reaction time. Use this converter alongside our other cricket tools to deepen your understanding of the numbers behind the sport. The tool also features the top 10 fastest deliveries in cricket history and the fastest balls of IPL 2026 for quick reference.