Australian paceman Mitchell Starc bowled what is believed to be the fastest delivery in Test cricket history Sunday, the third day of the second Test against New Zealand at the WACA Ground in Perth.

Starc joined an exclusive club with a sizzling delivery, with the fourth ball of his 21st over to Ross Taylor clocked at 160.4 kilometres per hour (99.7 mph).

Only four other fast bowlers have officially been recorded with deliveries at more than 160 kpm, but none of those were in Test cricket.

However, Kiwi batting coach Craig McMillan, who once faced a 161 kph delivery from Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar, questioned the accuracy of Starc's speed, suggesting it might have been the result of a technical fault in the broadcast van.

Akhtar holds the record with a 161.3 kph thunderbolt in a World Cup match against England at Newlands in 2003.

Australian pair Shaun Tait and Brett Lee were both recorded at 161.1 kph in separate limited overs matches.

The only other bowler to reach the mark was Australian firebrand Jeff Thomson at 160.6 kph, which was clocked during a study into fast bowling at the WACA Ground in 1976.

Thomson is widely considered the fastest bowler in cricket history.

Watch as Lee, Akhtar and Tait push the speed gun