PERTH (AFP) - Australian paceman Mitchell Starc bowled what is believed to be the fastest delivery in Test cricket history on Sunday on the third day of the second Test against New Zealand at the Waca Ground in Perth.

He joined an exclusive club with a sizzling delivery, with the fourth ball of his 21st over clocked at 160.4 kmh.

Only four other fast bowlers have officially been recorded to have bowled at more than 160kmh but none of those deliveries were in Test cricket.

Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar holds the record with a 161.3kmh thunderbolt in a one-day match against England at Newlands in 2003.

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

The only other bowler to reach the mark was Australian firebrand Jeff Thomson at 160.6kmh, when he was clocked during a study into fast bowling at the Waca Ground in 1976.

He is widely considered the fastest bowler in cricket history.

Starc's delivery was a yorker dug out by Kiwi batsman Ross Taylor. On the very next ball, Taylor edged an attempted drive to gully, where a tough chance was grassed by Mitchell Marsh.

New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor posted an unbeaten double century. He had not scored a century for almost a year until this latest knock. The milestone made him the first Kiwi to score a Test double century against Australia and he now holds the record for the highest score by a visiting player at the Waca Ground in Test cricket.

New Zealand were 406 for three in their first innings at tea. In reply to Australia's first innings total of 559 for nine declared, Ross Taylor was 165 not out and Brendon McCullum was on 21. Kane Williamson made 166 and put on 265 for the third wicket with Taylor.