A much-improved Panesar regales, observes Kartik

He loves the recognition he gets in a foreign land. Yet, Murali Kartik longs for adulation back home, coming as he does from the land of spinners. His foray with Middlesex county...

He loves the recognition he gets in a foreign land. Yet, Murali Kartik longs for adulation back home, coming as he does from the land of spinners. His foray with Middlesex county 8212; he bagged 25 wickets in eight matches under cold, seaming conditions 8212; has been successful this season. But more than Kartik, it8217;s someone else who has kept the English audience spellbound: Monty Panesar.

And Kartik, too, is in awe of the recent phenomenon in English cricket. 8220;Oh, he8217;s the crowd8217;s darling. They simply love him here. Monty is a cute, fidgety, happy character. He8217;s got big eyes, wears the turban in a different way; he8217;s got his own style and, of course, Monty8217;s theatrics and antics on the field are very popular,8221; he tells The Indian Express over phone.

Panesar was almost charged under ICC Code of Conduct for excessive appealing in the third Test, but has received vehement support from England coach Peter Moores who attributed his appealing to the pressure situation and his enthusiasm while bowling.

And even Panesar himself later admitted he gets 8220;a little too carried away when I8217;m out there.8221;

Kartik says: 8220;Everybody knows he8217;s a big bunny with the bat and is no great fielder either. So whenever he dives to make a save or smash a few runs, they love him even more. With the ball, he8217;s been great. Monty is picking wickets and winning Test matches for them. England haven8217;t seen a spinner who8217;s won them matches in recent times and more over he8217;s a great entertainer.8221;

India8217;s bane in recent times has been left-arm spinners. Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and the middle-order in general have struggled to negotiate it; last time around Ashley Giles tied them down with a outside the leg-stump line; Monty is the new threat as the West Indies team at present, and previously Australia, would vouch.

8220;Monty has got a classical action and he spins the ball well,8221; observes Kartik. 8220;But he needs to vary his pace a little bit to bring in more variation.8221;

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Monty has, on previous occasions, tried to get in touch with the 30-year-old Indian to clarify certain technical aspects. And he8217;s kept the interactions even now.

8220;Yes we have been talking a lot, during the last Test match at Old Trafford, Monty had come and spoken and a lot of those talks obviously centered around spin bowling. John Emburey, Director Cricket at Middlesex, also helped.8221;

And did Emburey speak to Kartik prior to leaving for interview as coach to the Indian team? 8220;No, nothing in particular. He was called in suddenly and he left in a hurry.8221;

Asked whether Panesar would be a real threat to the Indians, Kartik evaded a direct answer. He, however, said that Panesar was a much improved bowler now.