Top 6 bowlers with the longest run-up

6) Shoaib Akhtar

The Rawalpindi Express was one of the toughest bowlers to face

Known for his express pace, the former Pakistani fast bowler also known as 'Rawalpindi Express' was one of the fastest bowlers in the modern times. Akhtar when in his elements had a very long run-up which was unnerving because of the pace he could generate.

He is believed to have bowled the fastest delivery of all time when he clocked a speed of 161.3 km/h during the 2003 World Cup. But he became consistent only during the Test series at home against England in 2005 when he troubled all the batsmen and came away with seventeen wickets.

At his best, Akhtar was truly unplayable and his bouncers grievously injured quite a few batsmen. An Akhtar in full flow, steaming in on with a long run-up was truly a sight to behold. Unfortunately, a series of disciplinary issues and niggling injuries cut short his career in the end.