Adelaide: Left-arm spinner Murali Kartik will arrive here tonight to beef up the Indian spin attack. The decision to summon Kartik was taken yesterday according to team manager Shivlal Yadav. The Delhi-based spinner, who will arrive via Perth, will be available for selection in tomorrows second Test match here against Australia. The first Test was drawn in Brisbane. We have called him as the 17th man who will strengthen our team, said Yadav, at the Adelaide oval nets this morning. Kartik, in the opinion of several experts, should have been in the original tour party but the selectors decided to go in with the experienced pair of Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh. Harbhajan had a poor Test in Brisbane, conceding 169 runs for his lone wicket in 35 overs. Kumble, who was not in the Brisbane eleven, has a poor record in Australia five Test wickets for 450 runs on the 1999-2000 tour. Harbhajan is working hard. He is a quality bowler but he has to improve. The quicker the better, said skipper Sourav Ganguly. Asked what went behind the selection of Kartik, Ganguly said, "It is a long tour and we are allowed a 17th man. He (Kartik) is an asset. He bowled well against Australia in the TVS Cup but it depends how quickly he gets used to the conditions. Yes, he is available for selection (in the second Test) all three spinners are.
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