The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Kartik to play for Lancashire

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Wednesday, Aug 16, 2006

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Kartik to play for Lancashire

Special Correspondent

He becomes the second overseas player for the county

Murali Kartik. — FILE PHOTO

NEW DELHI: Indian left-arm spinner Murali Kartik will return to competitive cricket after a period of six months, having recovered from a shoulder surgery.

He has been contracted by Lancashire as its second overseas player for the remaining period of this year's season.

Kartik, who signed the contract on Monday, will leave on August 21.

Kartik had turned out for Lancashire last year when he became the first overseas player for the county to have claimed ten or more wickets on debut.

He had achieved the feat against Essex at Chelmsford, dismissing Andy Flower cheaply in both the innings.

In all he collected 16 wickets, including six from two one-day matches. He finished the averages table at the second position behind Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.

Excited

Kartik's performance last year had helped Lancashire win the title in the second division and he joins the county this year with the team at the top of the league. ``I will get to play three championship games and five one-day matches.

The last championship match will be against Shane Warne's Hampshire,'' said an excited Kartik, who last played a match in February at Indore in the Deodhar Trophy.

Lancashire, impressed with his performance last year, approached Kartik with an offer that would prepare the left-arm spinner for the season ahead. He becomes the second overseas player for the county along with Kiwi Nathan Astle, who had replaced Australian Brad Hodge.

Kartik underwent a surgery in Australia and was going through a rehabilitation programme under the guidance of physiotherapists John Gloster and Andrew Leipus.

Nice experience

Kartik attended the conditioning camp of the team in Bangalore where he bowled a minimum of 150 balls a day to get back in shape. ``It was very good because even I was surprised with the way I was able to pitch the ball in the right areas. I did not feel any stiffness. It was a nice experience and gave me enough confidence because I was able to throw the ball to a distance of 45 metres,' said Kartik, who confided he had been troubled by some negative thoughts about his future. ``It can happen to any player who suffers an injury but I am happy I have been able to come out confidently,'' he added.

Kartik had missed almost the entire season in 2001-02 due to a back trouble for which he had been treated in Australia.

Kartik is the fourth Indian to play for Lancashire after Farokh Engineer, Sourav Ganguly and Dinesh Mongia.

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