Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer [Images] has urged his batsmen to do justice to their talent and show better application during their Test series in India.

Pakistan, playing their first Test series in India for six years, begin as underdogs due to their recent poor performances attributed mainly to inconsistent batting.

The teams will play three Tests and six one-day internationals. The first Test starts in Mohali on Tuesday.

"They need to do the basics right, bat for four-and-a-half hours," he said on Sunday. "That is something they've not been able to do of late."

Pakistan were routed 3-0 in their away Test series against Australia in January. They then lost 2-0 to the hosts in the finals of the one-day tri-series, also involving West Indies [Images].

Woolmer said backing youngsters had helped his team still show some fight in Australia. "If you look at the successes we achieved, it was because of that tactic."