Aussie seamer Mitchell Starc almost reached 100mph at Perth
Thursday 19 November 2015 11:38, UK
Australia's left-arm paceman Mitchell Starc has set a new record for the fastest ball ever sent down in Test cricket after he was clocked at 160.4 kilometres per hour during the third day of the second Test against New Zealand at Perth.
It was a tough day for the Aussies in the field overall but Starc bowled one extremely quick spell just after lunch and set the new mark with the fourth ball of his 21st over.
But the 25-year-old could not quite join the very small '100-miles-per-hour' club because the delivery, a yorker which was dug out by double-centurion Ross Taylor, translated into a speed of 99.67mph.
Former Pakistan pacemen Shoaib Akhtar bowled the quickest delivery ever recorded during a one-day international against England in South Africa in 2003, which was measured at 161.3kph.
Starc said: "I was trying to bowl quick. It was nice to have a nice run-up and not have to jump up to the square, have a nice breeze.
"It was all sort of working nicely for the left-armers at this end. Nice to have some rhythm, have the ball coming out nicely. Unfortunately, I couldn't get a couple of wickets to go with it."
However, New Zealand batting coach Craig McMillan said he was not convinced the delivery was as quick as broadcasters Channel Nine showed on the screen.
"Maybe someone in the (TV) truck was having a bit of fun," said McMillan.
"It looked pretty similar to a lot of the other deliveries throughout the day that were closer to 150 than 160. I'm not sure whether maybe the wrong button was pushed or what.
"I was a bit surprised when I saw it come up on the TV, I just wonder whether there was a technical problem down at the truck that maybe led to that."
When informed about McMillan's remarks, Starc joked: "Happy for him to face me in the nets tomorrow if he wants!"
Starc has figures of 2-83 from 30 overs so far in the New Zealand innings, which had reached 510-6 at stumps (Taylor 235 not out) in reply to 559-9 declared.
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