Watch: Pace war - Brett Lee vs Shoaib Akhtar

Australia’s Brett Lee and Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar are clearly the two most devastatingly destructive bowlers in world cricket over of the generation. In modern times, only Australian pacers Mitchell Starc and Shaun Tait have come close to the elusive 100 miles per hour mark (160.9kph).

The margin between Shoaib and Lee was so close that they have almost competed ball for ball since Lee’s emergence in December 1999. Before this, Shoaib had been considered as the world’s fastest bowler.

Akhtar is widely known as the ‘The Rawalpindi Express’. He holds the record for the fastest delivery bowled in international cricket. He bowled 161.3km/hr against England in a World Cup Group A match at Newlands Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa on 22nd February 2003.

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Brett Lee is second in the list along with Shaun Tait with the fastest delivery being 161.1km/hr. Lee broke the 160km/h twice in an over against New Zealand in an ODI in 2005, including the 161.1km/h thunderbolt believed to be his fastest. He also clocked 160km/h during the 2003 World Cup and was once measured at 161.8km/h in a Test against the West Indies in 2001, although Channel Nine conceded the reading was “almost certainly a mistake”. At his best, Lee was among the most terrifying fast bowlers to play the game.

Akhtar and Lee took on each other during a Starsports show. They batted against each other while the Aussie hit Shoaib quite easily, the latter was hit in the abdomen when he faced Lee during the contest. Though it was just a friendly fixture, Brett Lee was on the floor rolling around after beating Akhtar.

Watch: Pace war – Brett Lee vs Shoaib Akhtar:

Some rivalries never end! Watch @bhogleharsha play peacemaker between @BrettLee_58 & @shoaib100mph! #AkhtarvsLeehttps://t.co/M6BvBUk5UT

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) May 26, 2016