Discarded Indian spinner Murali Kartik has signed up with Somerset as their overseas player for 2010.
The left-arm spinner, who joined Middlesex in 2007, has signed a one-year contract with the club.
The 33-year-old, who last played for India in an ODI in 2007, said it was a fantastic opportunity for him.
"It's a new challenge for a player like me who has been playing first class cricket in England for the last five seasons," Kartik said on Somerset's web site.
"I know it is not an Old Trafford or Lord's wicket. I've played here before and it is a different challenge to me. As an international spinner playing for a long time you like to challenge yourself on wickets like that."
"Somerset have been vying for honours for last two years and I think I probably add a new dimension to their attack."
Brian Rose, Somerset's director of cricket, said Kartik's inclusion would bolster their bid to win the Championship.
"We have come up from the second division into the first and been very competitive but in terms of winning the Championship we need to have really good all-round bowlers.
"We have got two bowlers who can get 50 wickets each and with Kartik we have got another who can get 50-60 plus, and to win championships you have to have the depth of bowling."
Kartik has picked up 475 first-class wickets at 26.16, including 33 this season. He has taken 24 wickets at 34.16 in eight Tests and 37 wickets at 43.56 in 37 ODIs.
