Smith was tough, but it was easy to bowl against Rohit and Kohli: Mohammad Amir

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Pakistan's Mohammad Amir celebrates after taking the wicket of Indian captain Virat Kohli (left) during the ICC Champions Trophy final in London on June 18, 2017. (AFP)

Karachi - The Pakistan left-arm pace bowler served a five-year suspension for his involvement in spot-fixing

By IANS

Published: Fri 21 May 2021, 2:19 PM

Last updated: Fri 21 May 2021, 2:33 PM

Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammed Amir has picked Steve Smith over both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, calling the Australian the toughest batsman he has bowled to unlike the Indian duo who he feels are easy pickings.

Amir, who retired from international cricket in December, 2020, after differences with the team management, was one of Pakistan's star performers in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy final, dismissing both Kohli and Sharma early.

"I haven't found it tough bowling to either. In fact, I find it easy to bowl to him (Rohit Sharma). I feel that I can get him out both ways. He struggles against the in-swinger from a left-armer and as well as against the ball that goes away early on. I may say that I find bowling to Virat slightly tougher because he revels in pressure situations, but otherwise I've never found it difficult bowling to either of the two," Amir said in an interview with Cricwick.

The left-arm pace bowler, who served a five-year suspension for spot-fixing, said that Australia's Smith is the most difficult batsman to bowl to because of his different technique.

"I find it most difficult to bowl to Steve Smith. Because his technique is very difficult [to comprehend]. He stands in such an angle that you don't understand where to bowl to him," Amir said before explaining why Smith's technique makes it difficult for bowlers to bowl to him.

"If you bowl an outswinger, he raises the bat and leaves it. If you bowl on the pads, his flick is a solid shot for him. I find his technique really difficult while bowling," added the former Pakistan pacer.