Australia's Lee fired up for biggest ever series

SYDNEY, Aug 16 (Reuters) Brett Lee is fired up for Australia's bid to regain the Ashes and looking forward to teaming up again with fellow fast bowler Glenn McGrath.

The 29-year-old says he feels rejuvenated after three months rest and cannot wait to take on the England batsmen when the series begins in Brisbane on November. 23.

''The Ashes are going to be absolutely amazing and it's possibly the biggest series I will ever play in,'' Lee told reporters. ''I'm pumped for it.'' Lee is looking forward to opening the bowling with McGrath, who is stepping up his fitness bid after missing the tours of South Africa and Bangladesh to help his wife Jane recover from cancer.

''It would be great to be back bowling with Glenn,'' Lee said.

''He is training very hard and says he's bowling as quick as he ever has done.'' McGrath said last week he would be targeting England opener Andrew Strauss and young batsman Alastair Cook, but Lee is not singling out any particular player.

''I don't target any one batsman,'' Lee said. ''If I can get someone out one to 11 then I'm happy.'' Lee turns 30 just before the start of the first test and believes he is capable of bowling quicker as well as making use of the experience he has gained in taking 211 wickets in 54 tests since making his debut in 1999.

''They say a fast bowler doesn't reach maturity until he passes 30, so the way I look at it is there's no reason why I can't get faster,'' he said.

''But you also have to realise that fast bowling doesn't always take wickets. Test batsmen don't get scared any more so you have got to really work a batsman out.

''I've learned what has worked and what hasn't worked and I've changed my game,'' Lee added.

''I think it comes with being a more mature person.'' Lee admitted that England's bowlers had made better use of the conditions in the last series and said it would be up to the Australians to make the most of their home advantage, including using Kookaburra balls.

''The Kookaburra is a good ball to bowl with,'' he said.

''We will also have the crowd behind us but it is up to us to get runs on the board and then back our bowlers with the ball.'' REUTERS PM RK1345