South Africa’s star batsman Hashim Amla has picked the best bowler he has ever faced in the shortest format of the game. He feels Imran Tahir is the best in the business in T20 cricket as he can bowl at the death, unlike many other spinners.
Imran Tahir is currently ranked third in ICC rankings for T20 bowlers, only behind Pakistan’s Imad Wasim and India’s Jasprit Bumrah. In ODIs, he is only second to Australia’s Josh Hazlewood.
Amla feels he is lucky that he had to face Tahir only in domestic cricket and not in international cricket. He reckoned that at the death, generally, fast bowlers operate but Tahir’s variations allow him to be successful at that stage of the game.
Tahir has been magnificent in limited overs cricket. Not just T20s, his bowling in the ODI cricket has been outstanding. Where the spinners used to eye keeping a check on the run-scoring during the middle-overs, Tahir revolutionized that phase by going after wickets.
After his success, there has been a marked increase in the demand for the wrist spinners in limited overs cricket. The game has seen so many wrist spinners bursting onto the scene across countries after the rise of Tahir.
AB and Morris stand out
Hashim Amla also pointed out his 2 countrymen as special talents. He said AB de Villiers and Chris Morris are the 2 players who stand out from the rest in T20 cricket.
Amla has been picked in the World XI squad to play 3 T20Is next month in Pakistan along with South African teammates Imran Tahir and Faf du Plessis, who will also lead the side.
The right-hander had earlier expressed his delight of the game of cricket returning to the country of Pakistan. He felt it was a great news for the country and it will open the doors for more cricket.
