Amir's top pick among 'big four'

Mohammad Amir stated his case as one of the world's best bowlers during a scintillating performance in the ICC Champions Trophy final recently, and now the Pakistani paceman has had his say regarding the question of who is the world's best batsman.

Amir has been back on the international scene for 18 months now, following a five-year ban for his role in the Lord's spot-fixing scandal in 2010, and has come up against the likes of Australia pair Steve Smith and David Warner, South Africa's AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla, England captain Joe Root and New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson, among plenty of other dynamic willow-wielders.

But the left-arm tearaway nominated a subcontinental opponent as the best of the lot.

"They all are (great) but personally Virat Kohli," Amir said when asked who of gun quartet Smith, Williamson, Kohli and Root was the best batsman during a Q&A session on Twitter.

Amir removed Kohli and in-form openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan during a devastating spell that all but sealed the Champions Trophy title for Pakistan last month.

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"That was the start we needed," Amir said of his devastating display at the time. "Shikhar, Rohit and Kohli were in tremendous form.

"I was looking for early wickets and I did it."

The 25-year-old had previously drawn praise from the India captain following his return to international cricket, with Kohli labelling him "a world-class bowler".

Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur also paid tribute to the fiery quick, who returned 3-16 from six overs in the tournament decider.

"What I know about Mohammad Amir is that he is a big-match player," Arthur said.

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"When the game is on the line he doesn't shy away from the pressure situations and he's got a proper big-match temperament."

Amir has continued on in England following the Champions Trophy, playing in the country's domestic T20 tournament for Essex.

To date, he has played four matches and taken three wickets, while he also played a first-class fixture last month, taking two wickets.