We have to bat like Virat, Pujara in second innings: Cummins

Melbourne, Dec 28 (Cricketnmore) Australia pacer Pat Cummins asked his fellow teammates to bat like Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara after they were skittled out for a paltry 151 in the first innings

"You have to face a lot of balls to get big scores and it is probably one of those wickets where you do the hard work early. Keep absorbing pressure and score later, but evidently it did not work for us today," he added.

Cummins bowled a fiery spell of 4/10 to help the hosts reduce India to 54/5 in the second essay but they still trail the visitors by 346 runs after conceding a massive first innings lead of 292 runs.

"It's always going to be hard missing two of your best players. We've known for nine months (that Steve Smith and David Warner won't be available). Others have to stand up. It probably highlights the class they've had in previous years but we've got to find a way," Cummins said.

"Everyone here is good enough. They've done it at the level below, all of them are the best (Sheffield) Shield players and most of them have done it for Australia before. Wicket feels pretty good still, so everyone feels like in the second innings they can face more balls and get going," he added.

Cummins said they wanted to make things tough for India in the second dig.