ALMOST a decade after he scattered the stumps of obscure Indian opener Sadagoppan Ramesh to claim his first Test wicket, Brett Lee yesterday became only the fourth Australian to bag 300 and he immediately set his sights on the next milestone.

Not only does he share the mark with three undisputed Australian champions but the achievement also signals that Lee has negotiated one of the toughest phases of a career that began in a mad rush but has run into several road blocks since.

Stuart Clark and Mitchell Johnson upstaged him yesterday but his rhythm has returned, with three Kiwi wickets so far in the first Test.

"I have been up against a brick wall the past couple of months, and I feel I have turned the corner now," Lee said last night, celebrating the wicket of New Zealand opener Jamie How with the broad smile that had been missing in India.

"My fitness is good and I'm back to where I want to be bowling. I wasn't happy on the whole with the India tour but that is behind me now. I am back bowling in Australian conditions.

"There are times when I could have thrown the towel.

"I am 32 now and I have no doubt I will be back to where I was last year and hopefully even better.

"The 300th was such a special feeling and I would like to think I would be one day sitting here with 400 next to my name."

About a fortnight ago, on his 32nd birthday, Lee was on a drip in Nagpur, grounded by a bout of food poisoning that typified a difficult tour of India. In the previous 18 months, he had achieved his boyhood ambition to lead the Australian attack.

At the beginning of the Indian tour, Lee was physically and emotionally flat after the break-up of his marriage. He struggled for impact on the unresponsive pitches.

His eight wickets for the series came at the inflated average of 61. He turned the corner in the final two Tests, came home five kilograms lighter and gained support from chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch and his brother Shane.