Lee ready to replace McGrath

Don't expect Brett Lee to change his bowling approach despite his promotion to attack leader following the retirement of Glenn McGrath. Australia's new-look unit will have its first assignment against Sri Lanka on November 8 and Lee will take control with Stuart Clark and, probably, Mitchell Johnson by his side.

While Lee has had the extra responsibility in the one-day game over the past couple of years, even when McGrath was around, he has had only short-term stints in charge during McGrath's Test absences. "It's great to have that role as a strike bowler," Lee said in the Australian, "but I'm not going to change my game in any way, shape or form to try and adapt to that."

John Buchanan, the former Australia coach, expects Lee to enjoy the duty. "I see that Glenn McGrath has told him it's his turn to step up to the plate, to be the lead bowler," he said. "He certainly has the experience."

Lee, who has returned strongly from ankle surgery, learned a lot during the 2003-04 series against India, when he bowled without McGrath in two Tests. It was a horrible experience as he struggled for impact and finished the contest with figures of 4 for 201 and 0 for 75 in the final game at Sydney.

India arrive in December and Lee is already looking past the two-match series with Sri Lanka. "They're great batsmen to bowl against, and if you want to improve your cricket, you always put yourself against the best and that's the Indian batsmen," Lee said in the Sydney Morning Herald. "We've definitely got our work cut out but we have got a great side and we've got that depth and the right structure in place."

He also said life would be different without McGrath and Shane Warne. "In the hard Test matches we've always thought we can always turn to Glenn or Shane to try to take a wicket and actually get that breakthrough," he said. "But now we haven't got that. We are looking to guys like Stuey Clark or Mitchell Johnson, if he gets the opportunity, or Stuey MacGill, or whoever it might be."