SYDNEY: Australian batsman and number-one ranked test batsman Steve Smith has picked Pakistani left-arm pacer Muhammad Amir as the toughest bowler he ever faced in international cricket.
During an Instagram question-answer session today (Sunday), the Australian batsman was asked to pick the bowler he finds difficult to face. Steve Smith named Muhammad Amir while heaping praise on the latter’s bowling skills.
The number-one ranked test batsman said, “Mohammad Amir, I think is the most skillful bowler I have faced.” However, he wasn’t the first batsman to pick Muhammad Amir as the toughest pacer to face.
On an Indian chat show in 2017, Indian captain Virat Kohli also expressed similar views about Muhammad Amir. “In the recent times, Mohammad Amir of Pakistan is the hardest to face,” Kohli said.
Kohli further said, “He is in the top two or three bowlers in the world and one of the toughest bowlers I have played in my career. You have to be on your ‘A’ Game when you’re facing him or he will strike.”
Earlier in May, in an Instagram live session, Amir picked Smith over Kohli as the toughest batsmen, from the current era, to dismiss. “In the past, I would say it was Jonathan Trott. From the current batsmen, it is Steven Smith due to his solid technique,” said Amir.