Sri Lanka Cricket chief Arjuna Ranatunga is looking forward to seeing Sachin Tendulkar back in action in the three Test series.

The first of three Tests between the nations gets under way in Colombo on Wednesday, with 35-year-old Tendulkar requiring 172 runs to pass West Indies legend Lara's mark of 11,953.

And Ranatunga cannot wait to see the 'Little Master' start picking off the runs.

"Everyone in Lanka is keen to see him bat in real cricket and not cowboy (shorter version) cricket," said Ranatunga, Sri Lanka's 1996 World Cup-winning captain.

"There are no words to describe him. One has to just look at his record. It says everything. He is the best batsman I have seen."