Murali Kartik

Born September 11, 1976
Major Teams India, Railways
Known As Murali Kartik
Batting Style Left Hand Bat
Bowling Style Slow Left Arm Orthodox
Test Debut 1999/00 against South Africa at Mumbai
ODI Debut 2001/02 against Zimbabwe at Hyderabad

The 27 year-old Murali made his Test debut in 1999-2000 against South Africa and played the last of his five Tests to date at Sydney against Australia last December.

Murali has taken 250 wickets in First-class cricket since making his debut for Railways in the Ranji Trophy in the 1996-97 with a best of 9-70. He also averages 18.4 with the bat from 87 innings with nine half centuries and a top score of 79.

Ramsbottom Cricket Chairman Mick Everett said: "Murali is an orthodox left arm spinner and late order left hand bat. He has an impressive record in First Class cricket in his own country which has led to him currently playing for the National side in both Test and One Day Internationals. He more than fills the void left by Mark Price and I would expect him to take a lot of wickets.

Murali made an immediate impression at Ramsbottom in only his second game with the season's best bowling figures to date in Ramsbottom's 6 wicket win at bottom side Enfield. The slow left armer took 9-30 in 22.5 overs of beguilment as Enfield's mystified batsmen were bowled out for just 117.


A Profile on Murali Kartik by Bhavya Kumar Vasudevan

A classical slow left arm bowler, Murali Kartik has for long been knocking on the doors of the Indian selectors. The first slow left arm bowler since Sunil Joshi, Kartik has the ability to extract sharp turn and bounce off the wicket. A bucket full of wickets at the First Class level has given Kartik the oppurtunity he was waiting for a long time. His Test debut against South Africa in Mumbai was nothing much to write on about. He was in and out of the side simply because there was nothing much he could do except bowl defensively.

However, the tour of Australia has seemed to benefit every Indian player. Murali Kartik has also been able to learn about bowling at the highest level. Although he was dismissive by the hands of Mathew Hayden and Justin Langer in the Test series, he has since been a better and more thoughtful bowler. The day is not far, when Murali Kartik will mould himself in a more effective bowler and introduce many more tricks in his armoury that will test the best of
batsmen.