Kolkata: Left-arm slow bowler Murali Kartik has taken the frequent ommissions from the Indian team in his stride, and is now working on line and length to return to the national side as a third spinner.

"There have been lots of ups and downs in my career since I started playing international cricket. But this is life," the 31-year-old Kartik told newspersons here today. Kartik, who made his debut for India in 2000, said he still held hopes of a Test comeback.

"There is still a ray of hope regarding my comeback in the Indian team as a third spinner," he said after a practice session of IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens. The Chennai-born cricketer last played for India in Tests towards the end of 2004. He has 24 wickets in eight Tests.

Kartik, who has also evicted 37 batsmen in 37 ODIs, returned to the India limited overs team in October last year opposite Australia. His last ODI appearance came against Pakistan in Jaipur a month later. Asked whether he was making any adjustements to his bowling, Kartik said "I am now focussing on line and length."

He felt that spinners had a definite role during the middle overs in Twenty20 cricket to peg back the batsmen. "Spinners have a role from over number seven to over number 16 to slow down the proceedings," said Kartik. Determined to shine in the IPL Twenty20 tournament, Kartik said he would have to do a lot of homework in the next few days.

Kartik said he was enjoying the build-up to the cash-rich league. "We (all the players) are all excited about the tourney." Asked about being left out of the Indian team for the recent tour to Australia, he gave an evasive reply.

"I don't know why." Hard-hitting Australian batsman David Hussey said he was excited to play under Knight Riders captain Sourav Ganguly. "He is a great player and a great captain. I will also be learning a few things from him."

Hussey, one of the most succesful batsmen in Australian domestic Twenty20 cricket, said finding a place in the Knight Riders has brought him close to fulfilling his dream of playing at Eden Gardens. Hussey did not agree with a view that the tourney would lack in intensity as the players would not be playing for their national or provincial sides. "Everybody wants to win. The competition will definitely be there," he added.

Source : PTI