A far cry from the friendliness that marked the limited-overs leg of the summer, Australian quick Pat Cummins said things could certainly "get a little fiery" as the heart turns on during the Test series against India. 

The two great countries are set to renew their longstanding rivalry for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a much-anticipated D/N pink-ball opening encounter on December 17. 

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"I wouldn't be surprised if with the players getting baked in the sun a couple of more hours each day, the Test matches get a little fiery," Cummins said during a virtual press conference on Friday (December 11), as quoted by PTI. 

"I think it's (the tour) been quite friendly in terms of banter - you see a lot of smiling faces around. That said, you see a lot of quick bowling out there, lots of batters taking the game on. So, I won't say that the actual match play has been overly friendly, it's been really competitive and hard."

"How we play the game reflects who we are as people and for the most part, the Aussie team is a pretty relaxed bunch, we like a bit of a laugh, so let's see what happens in this series."

Cummins said he looks forward to the face-off with Virat Kohli, inarguably among the world's best batsmen. 

"I'm happy I don't have to bowl to Steve Smith. I saw Kane Williamson's double hundred last week. So, I'm pretty glad I'm not playing there (in New Zealand) as well," he said.

"I think when you are in the moment, you try and maybe lift (the rivalry with the opposition batsman) a little bit. You sense it at the wicket when someone walks out there."

"In terms of how it affects the overall storyline, I don't think about it too much. But growing up as kids, they are the kind of contests that you tuned into TV. I remember (Glenn) McGrath bowling to (Brian) Lara; you had to watch it because you knew something was going to happen. I like being in those moments, let's see what happens this summer."

Amid fresh discussions around the Australian Test captaincy post, Cummins, who was recently named the team's sole vice-captain, said he doesn't see why a fast bowler can't lead his country at the highest level. 

"I feel out of all formats, Tests are the easiest for a bowler to captain," he said. "You are busy and you got to be out there putting a lot of effort into your bowling."

"That said, there's a bit of time that's afforded to you in Tests, the game moves at a slightly softer pace. I know there haven't been too many bowling captain's but I don't understand why it has to be a batter"

Cummins wishes for the curators to prepare balanced Australian surfaces against the Indians, offering "a bit of pace and bounce" to the quicks. 

"First of all, just a fair balance between bat and ball. I don't think a Test match where a team can go and bat and get 600 runs is good viewing for anyone, so hopefully a really fair contest," said the 27-year-old.

"Obviously here in Australia we want conditions that reflect Australia and I think the best Test matches here have been when it's got a bit of pace and bounce in the wickets."

"Adelaide Oval here is been a really good wicket each time I have played, so that's what I'd be asking for bit of pace and bounce and hopefully a bit of spin for (Nathan) Lyon too," he added. 

Cummins, who denied suggestions that he might be a bit undercooked having not played any Tests since the last summer, was also asked whether he has any plans in store for India's No.3 Cheteshwar Pujara. 

The Australian pace battery found life extremely difficult getting past Pujara during the last series where the batsman's three hundreds were integral to India's historic 2-1 series win. 

"To be honest, we haven't really spoken yet, we have only got into the camp a couple of days, so I am sure we will sit down and have couple of meetings, and like we do in most training sessions, as bowlers we talk with each other and come out with some plans."

"I'll concentrate on what I do well as a bowler and same for other guys, of course you might tweak your plans, slightly for a certain batter, but hopefully couple of years on, we are all a little bit better equipped as bowlers and see what happens," Cummins signed off.