Lee wants to challenge Tendulkar

Melbourne:

Australia's pace spearhead Brett Lee is keen to cross sword with Indian master Sachin Tendulkar in a bid to prove to the "world's greatest" that he is a vastly improved bowler now.

"I am actually looking forward to bowling against Sachin Tendulkar. It's going to be his last tour here in Australia.

He's a pretty amazing player and I think any opportunity you get to play against the world's greatest is always a good chance to see where you are as a bowler," remarked Lee.

Lee feels he has come a long way from the previous tour by the Indians in 2003 when he played in the final three Tests and helped Australia win the Melbourne Test.

"I wasn't well when I played in MCG on that tour," said Lee who took eight wickets at 60 runs apiece in that series completely dominated by the Indian batsmen.

Lee fears the conditions here this time around might not be too different.

"If you think about bouncy wickets in Australia, it's probably only in Perth. The wickets that we have played on recently have been pretty low and slow, pretty much like a traditional Indian wicket I would think.

"I'm hoping and praying there is a bit more life in the wicket so we can use what we know to do out here in these conditions."

Lee didn't want to be drawn into the controversy whether Shaun Tait or Mitchell Johnson should open bowling with him.

"It would be brilliant to open the bowling with Tait but Johnson has done an outstanding job. Success against Tendulkar might give him an edge over Tait."

It was at the MCG eight years ago when Lee made his debut against India and impressed straightaway.