Even if selectors notice what I am doing, they turn a blind eye

[Andy]

Murali Kartik Interviewed by Bharat Sundaresan of The Indian Express on Tuesday, July 27, 2010 Murali Kartik says that he isn't sure if the national selectors will even be aware about his rich haul of wickets for Somerset but he adds that he is still hopeful of a recall to the Indian team. While the Indian spinners have struggled in Sri Lanka, a slow bowler who has been repeatedly ignored by Indian selectors, Murali Kartik is enjoying a highly successful stint with Somerset in the English county circuit. He has been highest wicket-taker in the County Championship so far this season, despite playing just four of the nine games so far. He has picked up 31 wickets at 12.70 apiece, including 5 five-wicket hauls and twice picking up 10-wicket in a match. Speaking to The Indian Express, Kartik says that he isn't sure if the national selectors will even be aware about his rich haul of wickets for Somerset but he adds that he is still hopeful of a recall to the Indian team. Excerpts: Somerset have won three out of four first-class games, all their 40 over matches and almost all their T20 fixtures since you got there. So how crucial do you think your contribution has been to this dream-run? The only thing I can say is that Somerset as a club is a very strong side and they have always had brilliant players around. They have been a side, who have always been challenging in all the competitions and it's been no different this year. You picked a majority of those 31 wickets at your home-ground in Taunton. How difficult has it been to cope with a venue with such short boundaries? Yes, it is a challenge bowling at Taunton not only for the size of the boundaries but also because historically Taunton is considered one of the flattest wickets in England. So I knew what I was gearing up for when I decided to come over here. To be honest, I haven't done anything different, I have been bowling the same way I always have. Do you think you force national selectors' attention now, especially considering the performances of the Indian spinners in Sri Lanka? I don't know if they have noticed what I am doing or if anything that I do here gets mentioned in India. And even if they do notice, probably they turn a blind eye to it. I know what I dole out as a bowler. Throwing modesty out of the window, what I bowl is better than everyone else bar Bhajji (Harbhajan Singh) or Anil bhai (Kumble). That's been a fact for many years and selectors are well aware of what I'm capable of. Also I think in India, the media tries to hype players they want to support and these selectors take a lot of note on that. Dinesh Mongia was picked as my replacement when I went for shoulder surgery with only 7 wickets to show from 11 games as a left-arm spinner. What is your view about the disregard shown towards subcontinent spinners' performances in county cricket since English batsmen are not comfortable against spin? I don't know who comes up with these theories that they can't play spin. All these grandma tales are outdated. Try bowling to a (Marcus) Trescothick or (Kevin) Pietersen in English conditions or for that matter anyone else. Yes, accepted that they play it differently to Indians, but haven't Vettori, Warne, Murali and Mendis troubled us while we are supposed to be superior players of spin. Have you got over the hurt of being treated shabbily and are you still hopeful for yet another comeback? I am definitely hopeful. That's why I have been playing non-stop cricket for the past so many years. And I can safely say that please find a better left-arm spinner and I shall stop playing. Yes it still hurts and always will, but I am not bitter and have never been. I'm just disappointed with the way it's panned out. There has been a lot written about fast bowlers gaining a lot out of playing county cricket, Zaheer Khan for example. How important a platform has it been for you? Without sounding cliched, I think playing everyday here is an experience in itself. As an overseas player, there is a lot at stake, including your own personal pride. To maintain your intensity, for six months is a big challenge. So if teams have been asking me to be their overseas player, I must be doing something right and Somerset want me to come back next year, which means I would have played seven years in a row in county cricket 14 back-to-back first-class seasons. I know I'm 33, but the point I want to prove is that I have been in good shape to sustain the intensity. Source

[Lord]

its ridiculous that Ojha is playing ahead of him :mad:

[Andy]

its ridiculous that Ojha is playing ahead of him :mad:

IPL :hehe:

[ZodiaC]

Yeah, can't believe this, every other dude now gets a chance to play in the national team, and Kartik is being consistently overlooked by selector babus.

[Tendulkar_Bhai]

Kartik has been given chances before but i cant remember how he did, i have an image of him being a tidy bowler but not that threatening. To be fair to the selectors, on this occasion after IPL we were all calling for Ojha to be picked and some even ahead of Bhajji, now he's not done anything should we just drop him and put him on the pile with mishra, chawla and co? Im not saying i rate him as a test player, but as a new spinner he must be given a chance.

[Sachinism]

kartik did ok at times and at times was very costly. But he seems to have been really well for Somerset over the last few seasons and also put it in good performances for KKR, not sure how he did in the Indian domestic seasons

[Manny_Pacquiao]

i always thought karthik was a quality ODI bowler. i have seen him bowl some very good spells when the rest of the bowlers around him were going for big runs. problem is, these days cricketers need to have all round ability and karthik is just a bowler with no batting or fielding in him. he should be in our ODI team for the world cup. in tests, he was never really that convincing. plus i think he has a bit of an attitude problem. none of the indian captains really liked him

[achilles]

He is an outstanding bowler and hope he gives more interviews like these. They've treated him very shabbily and for all you know, the selectors have another card up their sleeve to disregard Karthik - R.Ashwin.

[The Dark Horse]

I know he was good at home, how about his away record?

[Sir john]

@andy thanks for article:yay:

[Chandan]

kartik did ok at times and at times was very costly. But he seems to have been really well for Somerset over the last few seasons and also put it in good performances for KKR' date=' not sure how he did in the Indian domestic seasons[/quote'] Did almost average. M Kartik 7 250.4 75 426 17 5/81 5/86 25.05 1.69 88.4 1 0 Just 17 wickets is nothing outstansing to make someone turn his head towards him. There is one five for and average isn't bad. Abdullah, Chawla, Dheeraj Singh (Orissa), Aushik Srinivas (TN and even SS Lahiri (Bengal) got more wickets than him. I've not checked other criteria and Kartik may have trumped others here, but this is the story on wicket's front, as far as spinners go in Ranji season last year.

[youngindia]

they are lookin at younger options...would be a backward step to pick him. he lacks that extra to tame the best....he canbe taken apart by the best. with kumble and harbajan, he didn't have the best chance really.people of his age don't get picked for comebacks

[thevortex]

Statistics do not reveal the full story. Karthik is India's best spinner bar none today. He was being modest and a bit diplomatic when he mentioned Harbhajan being better than him.

[youngindia]

harbhajan is better than him. the only other spinner i can think of is mohnish parmar with his old action in his exceptional ranji season. i don't know where he is evolving with his newaction.

[The Realist]

I'd like to see Singh play in county cricket and see how well he would perform. Would take him out of the comfort zone bubble he currently resides in.

[thevortex]

I'd like to see Singh play in county cricket and see how well he would perform. Would take him out of the comfort zone bubble he currently resides in.

Well said! I am certain that he will not be as successful as Karthik on that circuit.