Shoaib Akhtar

Not only was Shoaib the first-ever bowler to break the 100mph barrier but he, in fact, did this twice in his fourteen-year career. The former cricketer and now YouTuber and cricket commentator is known as the fastest bowler in the history of cricket, Shoaib impressively delivered an unbeatable speed of 161.3km/h. Throughout his long stint in cricket, he played all formats and gained the nickname of Tiger and Rawalpindi Express as a tribute to his bowling skill and hometown.

In 2005 Shoaib proved his reputation as a fast bowler following an array of impressive performances in a three-Test home series against England. His talents as a bowler proved too much for the English batsmen as he effectively used slow deliveries that were unplayable by the English side. With seventeen wickets, Shoaib finished the series as the highest wicket-taker. His incredible performance was acknowledged by Michael Vaughan, the English captain who stated:

"I thought he (Shoaib) was a big difference between the two teams".

It was during the 2003 World cup when Shoaib became one of only three bowlers to break the 100mph barrier which he executed in a one-day international against England. Following a few controversies, Shoaib was banned from cricket, however, in October 2008 his five-year ban was suspended by the Lahore High Court in Pakistan. Therefore Shoaib was selected for the Twenty20 Quadrangular Tournament in Canada as part of a fifteen man squad. Even Rana Bhagwandas, a Pakistani judge, once described Shoaib as a legend of Pakistan cricket. Following the 2011 World Cup Shoaib retired from international cricket.

Shoaib, a huge character within cricket who's widely known for not only his bowling ability but also his outspoken views and opinions which makes him an extremely entertaining cricket speaker. He offers valuable insights and perspectives on the controversy in cricket but also the skills and mindset required as an international cricketer.