Bouncers have often left batsmen reeling, with fast bowlers delivering some of the most vicious deliveries in cricket history.
Among the most unforgettable was Brett Lee’s bouncer in late 2002, which forced England’s Alex Tudor to be stretchered off the field in Perth. Tudor was struck on the helmet by a 144.1 km/h delivery, resulting in a fractured skull. Lee, known for his speed and hostility, had been wreaking havoc throughout the Ashes series, and this brutal blow ended Tudor's tour.
At No. 2 is Courtney Walsh, who terrorised batsmen with his fierce deliveries during the 1980s and 1990s. Walsh's bouncer in Antigua against England’s Robin Smith stands out. Smith, known for his courage, was unable to withstand a bouncer that broke his jaw, forcing him to retire hurt and return to England for treatment.
Malcolm Marshall, another West Indian great, takes the third spot. In 1984, he bowled a bouncer that ended England’s Andy Lloyd’s innings and sent him to the hospital. Lloyd’s 10-run knock was overshadowed by the brutal delivery, and he remains the only player in Test history to open the innings without being dismissed.
Shoaib Akhtar of Pakistan follows at No. 4. Once the world’s fastest bowler, Akhtar’s bouncers were a constant challenge for batsmen. Brian Lara, the West Indies legend, found himself at the receiving end of a vicious delivery that sent him tumbling to the ground.
Rounding off the list is Curtly Ambrose, who, along with Walsh, formed one-half of the West Indies' fearsome new-ball duo. Ambrose used his towering height and pace to extract bounce from even the most lifeless pitches. His bouncer to Allan Border in 1992 remains a testament to the difficulties Ambrose could pose even to the best batsmen in the world.
