Spinner Kartik rejoins Lancashire

Kartik captured 16 wickets in his two matches for Lancs in 2005

Lancashire have signed India spin bowler Murali Kartik as a short-term replacement for Australian Brad Hodge.

Kartik will play for the club on a match-to-match basis until Hodge's situation becomes clearer.

He injured his neck in July and has not been named in Australia's one-day squad for a tri-series in Malaysia next month

Kartik has joined the club in time to be considered for selection for Saturday's C&G Trophy final at Lord's against Sussex.

Before that, however, he will play in a benefit game for Andrew Flintoff at Old Trafford on Thursday, which will also raise money for the England all-rounder's nominated charities.

It is his second spell with Lancashire, having played the final two County Championship matches of last summer, during which he became the first overseas player to take 10 wickets on debut for the club.

Kartik, who will be 30 in September, made his Test debut for India in 2000 but played the last of his eight matches in 2004, taking 24 wickets with a best of 4-44.

He has been involved more in the one-day side, making his 30th appearance against Pakistan in February this year.