Who's the fastest bowler in the world?

ENGLAND speedster Tymal Mills, 24, has been making waves in recent months by regularly storming past the 145km/h barrier in Twenty20 cricket.

And on Monday, Mills joined the world's elite in breaking the $2 million barrier when Virat Kohli's Royal Challengers Bangalore brought him to their set-up for this season's competition.

Unfortunately for Mills, his story of rising through the ranks to the England set-up and now the IPL is tinged with sadness.

The speedster suffers from a congenital back condition meaning he is now only able to bowl in short spurts, making longer forms of the game an absolute no-no.

T20 is now his only option, but boy is he suited for it.

But is Mills the quickest bowler on the planet right now?

SHAUN TAIT

AUSTRALIAN quickie Tait burst on to the scene in 2005, impressing in his country's warm-up matches ahead of the famous Ashes series.

Following injury to Glenn McGrath and the sub-par performances of Jason Gillespie that summer, Tait was given his chance, regularly clocking up 145km/h.

But he has in fact cracked the magic 160km/h barrier - at 161km/h - bowling at Craig Kieswetter during Australia's one-day series against England in 2010.

FIDEL EDWARDS

WEST INDIAN paceman Edwards struggles to get a game for his country these days, but is still going strong.

He may have lost a yard of pace from his slingy action, but once upon a time he hit 158km/h.

All the way back in 2003, the Barbadian hit the outrageous speed playing against South Africa.

MITCHELL JOHNSON

Famed for once being obliterated by England and then taking his turn to be the obliterator.

Mills was called up by England in 2013 in a bid to combat Johnson - so the batsmen could get used to rapid, short-pitched bowling in training.

Johnson, at his aggressive best, has peaked at 156.7km/h - during that famous 2013 Fourth Ashes Test in Melbourne.

DALE STEYN

HIS angry stare is scary enough, but South African Steyn has the pace to match the look, too.

Bowling during the IPL in 2010 against the Kolkata Knight Riders, Steyn was clocked at 156km/h.

Internationally he has come close too, hitting 155km/h against New Zealand in 2009.

LASITH MALINGA

SRI LANKA'S slingy speedster Malinga has struggled with injuries of late, but is still one of the most fearsome ODI bowlers on the planet.

He plies his trade mostly in Twenty20 matches and once hit 155.7km/h during the 2010 World Cup against New Zealand.

VARUN AARON

INDIAN pace-merchant Aaron is renowned for pace, if not for instilling fear in his opposition.

Either way, at 152.5km/h, you wouldn't fancy being at the other end.

He hit that mark against Sri Lanka during an ODI series in 2010.

STEVEN FINN

SOME English competition for Mills here, with teammate Finn cracking our list.

Giant Middlesex bowler Finn has struggled with his rhythm - and therefore pace - for a couple of years now.

But in his pacy pomp, he clocked 152km/h ... just short of Mills's best.