Ponting looking for more from players in search of perfection

The hosts let a good position with the bat slip, posting 256-8 having been 118-1, but West Indies lost their first three wickets within five overs and never recovered.

"I thought it was a reasonable effort,"said Ponting.

"I thought we could have got a few more runs and bowled and fielded a bit better. We've got to make sure we don't take the foot off (the gas)."

Ponting believes consistency of selection has been an important factor in a home summer which has seen Australia go unbeaten so far.

"We've been really careful the last few series to make sure we're not tinkering too much," he said. "Everyone's happy with what they've achieved and we just want to keep improving."

West Indies skipper Chris Gayle, who made just seven in his side's total of 143, challenged his side to improve for Tuesday's second encounter.

"This is not the start we wanted," he said. "It's back to the drawing board and hopefully we can level it in Adelaide."

Gayle, who before the start of the five-match series predicted his side would win 4-1, joked: "That's the only one they're going to get.

"We wanted to start the series on a high but it didn't happen."

Gayle was happy with his decision to bowl first after winning the toss.

"It was a tough decision but this is what we wanted to do," he said. "I thought we did well to restrict Australia to 256 but we fell way short.

"It's very disappointing to lose three wickets in the first five overs. Hopefully we can get everyone up and move on to Adelaide."

Hashim Amla admitted his maiden Test double century felt all the better for having come in India.

The 26-year-old, whose grandparents came from India, amassed an unbeaten 253 as South Africa declared their first innings on 558-6 on the second day of the first Test in Nagpur.

"A double century is always special, be it any opposition," Amla, who shared a 340-run partnership with Jacques Kallis.

"But obviously it feels great that it came on Indian soil."