Coach Justin Langer said the mark of a great team was to keep winning as he threw down a challenge to Australia Thursday against a depleted India desperate to restore pride in the second Test this week.

Australia head into the Boxing Day clash at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on a high after crushing the visitors by eight wickets inside three days in the opening Test at Adelaide.

The dramatic victory was built on the back of devastating spells from pace spearheads Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, who skittled India in the second innings for their lowest Test score of 36.

Langer said it was an incredible effort, and he wants to see it repeated.

"I've said that to become a great team we have got to get better at winning after we win. Really good teams keep winning and winning ... it's an area that we have addressed," he said.

"We need to start well on Boxing Day morning and then be consistent because India, we know, will fight back, as we saw in the first two days of the Test match in Adelaide."

With star opener David Warner again ruled out with a groin injury, Langer said Australia would stick with the same XI, barring last-minute issues.

That means the under-pressure Joe Burns retains his spot as opener after a handy 51 not out in Adelaide, with Matthew Wade again moving up the order to accompany him, while allrounder Cameron Green earns his second cap.

India have far more selection dilemmas, with captain Virat Kohli missing the final three Tests for the birth of his first child.

Either the experienced KL Rahul or the uncapped Shubman Gill are tipped to take his place at number four, while Ajinkya Rahane assumes the captaincy.

Although India haven't officially confirmed it, star paceman Mohammed Shami is also expected to be absent after reportedly fracturing his wrist after being hit by a Cummins thunderbolt in Adelaide.

It means they will be without two of their first-choice bowlers, with Ishant Sharma still injured.

- Too defensive -

The setback opens the door for either Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Siraj or T Natarajan, none of whom have played at Test level, to step in as the third seamer alongside Jasprit Bumrah and Umesh Yadav.

Langer said Kohli and Shami's absence would not change how Australia approached the game, but added: "When you take the best players out of any cricket team, then of course it weakens them, that is just reality, and it gives us an advantage."

Kohli pointed to his team being too timid with the bat against Cummins, Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc in their second innings collapse last week, and also rued a slew of dropped catches.

But he expressed confidence the team would bounce back in Melbourne where 30,000 fans will be allowed each day, around one third capacity under coronavirus restrictions.

His sentiments were supported by former Test captain and chief national selector Kris Srikkanth.

"The mindset I think was too defensive. They have to regroup. They have to have a bit more positive intent. The best way is just to go for it," he told the Melbourne Age Thursday.

"But when you miss King Kohli, it's going to make it difficult let's be honest. And Shami. But I'm sure they'll come out and fight."

Srikkanth did see a positive for India with Warner missing out again.

"My belief is the Aussies' batting is 30 percent Warner, 30 percent (Steve) Smith, all others put together is 30 percent. But the bowling is very good," he said.

Second Melbourne Test preferred

Back-to-back Tests against India in Melbourne could be played if Sydney is ruled out because of the coronavirus outbreak in the city, Cricket Australia said Thursday.

A Covid-19 cluster emerged in Sydney last week and has grown to more than 100 cases, with parts of the city in a snap lockdown and restrictions placed on travel to other states.

Cricket Australia interim chief Nick Hockley said a final decision on the third Test venue would be made during the second Test in Melbourne, which begins on Saturday.

"The record testing numbers and the drop in new community transmissions in NSW have provided cause for optimism, however if the situation in Sydney deteriorates, we have strong contingency plans in place," Hockley said.

There had been speculation that two Tests could be played in Brisbane if Sydney were to be axed, but CA said its preferred option was Melbourne, followed by the fourth and final clash at the Gabba as scheduled.

If Sydney goes ahead, getting players to Brisbane could pose a problem after Queensland state effectively closed its border to the city.

But Hockley said CA was working to secure exemptions to allow players, officials, broadcasters and media to travel between the cities should restrictions remain.

"We are working constructively with the Queensland government and have been encouraged by the positive nature of discussions with them," he added.

Australia won the opening Test in Adelaide by eight wickets on Saturday.