Muralitharan, who has refused to tour Australia in the past because of crowds taunting his unusual bowling action, wants to show why he is one of the best bowlers in the world, skipper Mahela Jayawardene said. "He hasn't played here for 10 years in a Test match and he's pretty geared up, I think. He feels Australia is one of the places that he has to challenge himself," Jayawardene said.

"This is probably a place where he has to prove he's one of the top bowlers in the world, so I think he's looking forward to the challenge."

Murali needs just nine wickets to overhaul Warne's 708 Test scalps in the Test matches in Brisbane and Hobart starting on November 8 and 16.

The Sri Lanka tour follows Australia's return home after a bitter series against India marred by the racial taunting of the team's only black player, Andrew Symonds, who was subjected to monkey noises and gestures.
There are fears that Muralitharan could receive unsportsmanlike treatment in Australia, where he has been called for 'throwing' on two previous tours and subjected to constant crowd calls of "no ball."

Jayawardene was confident his team would be able to take the fight to Australia's bowling attack. While no touring team has won a series in Australia since the great West Indies side of 1993, the Sri Lankan captain said an attack missing the recently retired Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne was a key area to target.

"I think with Glenn and Shane not being there, they probably lack a bit of experience in their bowling attack, that is an area we can look forward to," Jayawardene told reporters in Adelaide. Jayawardene said Sri Lanka had the edge over Australia's bowling attack, with veteran Chaminda Vaas, paceman Lasith Malinga and the fast-improving Dilhara Fernando all established in the Tests.