Starc holds the record for the fastest ball ever bowled in a Test match

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Australia left-arm seamer Mitchell Starc etched his name in the record books after he delivered the fastest ball ever bowled in a Test match during the third day of the second Test against New Zealand in Perth.

Starc broke the record when the fourth ball of his 21st over, which took place after the lunch break, was clocked at 160.4 kilometres per hour.

However, Starc is unlikely to join the elite 100 miles per hour club as 160.4 kilometres per hour translates into 99.67 miles per hour.

“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,” Starc told reporters. “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 has serious doubts about whether Starc’s delivery was that quick.

“Maybe someone in the (TV) truck was having a bit of fun,” he said. “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.”

Responding to McMillan’s comments, Starc said: “Happy for him to face me in the nets tomorrow if he wants!”