During a recent Instagram live session, the former Aussie captain was responding to questions from fans. When asked to name the fast bowler he finds difficult to face, Smith picked Pakistan’s talented left-arm seamer Mohammad Amir.
“Mohammad Amir, I think is the most skilful I’ve faced,” Smith said. Amir was banned from international cricket for 5 years due to his role in the 2010 spot-fixing scandal that rocked Pakistan cricket. He was allowed to play international cricket after he served his ban and he has put in some great performances ever since. It was Amir’s guile that helped Pakistan topple favourites India in the final of the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy. The left-arm pacer has played 36 Tests, 61 ODIs and 48 T20 internationals for Pakistan. Smith has himself made a stunning comeback to international cricket after being banned for a year due to his role in the ball-tampering controversy against South Africa. The Australian batting mainstay also said that his team lifting the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 is the best moment of his career till now.
Smith, who answered questions sent in by his fans on Instagram on Sunday, also said the Indian Premier League is his favourite tournament to play in. When quizzed about which Indian player has impressed him the most, the Australian batting mainstay said: “KL Rahul. Very good player!” Rahul, who has played 36 Tests, 32 ODIs, and 42 T20Is, has become one of the mainstays of the Indian batting line-up after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Besides showcasing his skills with the willow, Rahul also bears the responsibility of being the wicketkeeper in the limited-overs format. He first took over as the keeper of India when regular wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant was injured in the second ODI against Australia, last year. Asked about Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Smith responded by saying that the former Indian skipper is a “Legend! Mr Cool”.
