Need to bat like Pujara, Kohli in second innings, says Cummins

MELBOURNE: Bundled out for a paltry 151 in the first innings, pacer Pat Cummins on Friday said Australia batsmen need to learn from India captain Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara on how to pace their knocks on this MCG pitch.

Pujara and Kohli had put on 170 runs in the first innings to help India declare at a mammoth 443 for seven and Cummins said they need to take a cue from their temperament.

“It was obviously not ideal. We turned up thinking of a good first innings score and be right in the game. We wanted to take this result away from them. This is a young batting group and they are working hard. They are trying their best, but it is just one of those things. Today it didn’t come off,” Cummins said after the day’s play.

“What we saw from India’s first innings, we saw temperament of Pujara and Virat and how they pace their innings. They absorb pressure because on this kind of wicket, it is hard to score runs.

“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.

The fast bowler said in the absence of banned duo Steve Smith and David Warner, others have to rise to the occasion to give India a tough fight.

“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 find 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.