Australian pace bowler Brett Lee said that October's four-Test series against India will be bigger than the Ashes, with the winner being crowned the world's unofficial number one Test team.

"The Australia-India Tests will be bigger than the Ashes," said Lee.

Lee said the series had replaced the Ashes series between Australia and England - whose arch cricket rivalry launched Test cricket in 1876-77 - as the sport's showpiece contest.

"We have grown up watching the Ashes, but the forthcoming series against India is going to be bigger," said Lee, who is currently on a business visit to India.

"I consider the four-Test series against India in October as the unofficial Test world championship," he said.

Lee praised India's gritty performance during its recent tour to Australia, where it managed to draw the Test series 1-1 thanks to strong performances from batsmen VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Sourav Ganguly.

Lee said it was a big challenge to play India on its home turf.

"It needs a lot of grit, and we're expecting a tough fight," he said. "The wickets in the subcontinent are flat and aid spinners."

"India's got one of the best batting lineups in the world, but it's possible to beat India in India."

He said Australia's recent Test series triumph in Sri Lanka "set a benchmark" and gave the team a huge boost.

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