First Test, Kingston
Australia 301-4 v West Indies (close of play, day one)

Australia captain Ricky Ponting scored his 35th Test century to put his side on top after day one of the first Test against West Indies in Jamaica.

Ponting made 158 before falling to Dwayne Bravo and now stands second on the Test hundreds list, just four behind India's Sachin Tendulkar.

The tourists lost both openers cheaply before Mike Hussey (56) helped Ponting add 137 for the third wicket.

And Brad Hodge chipped in with 53 not out as they reached 301-4 at stumps.

It was a disappointing outcome for the home side, who went into lunch in upbeat mood after paceman Fidel Edwards achieved a double breakthrough during the morning session.

With Matthew Hayden sitting out the match because of injury, Australia had a new look opening pairing of Phil Jaques and Simon Katich.

But they were together for less than four overs before Katich, playing his first Test for two and a half years, sliced a ball from Edwards to Darren Sammy at gully and departed for 12.

Jaques followed for nine when he was pinned on the back foot and adjudged lbw, forcing Ponting and Hussey to bat with care in order to prevent further damage.

Ponting was in a more aggressive frame of mind after lunch, however, and after reaching his half century with a single off Sammy, he brought up the century partnership by pulling a ball from Dwayne Bravo through mid-wicket for four.

Debutant off-spinner Amit Jaggernauth bowled tidily in his first spell in Test cricket and eventually broke the partnership when a sharply turning delivery found the edge of Hussey's bat and Bravo swooped to take a magnificent one-handed slip catch.

The end of Hussey's innings brought in Hodge, a batsman only in the side because of Michael Clarke's delayed arrival in the Caribbean following the death of his fiancee's father and Hayden's injury.

But he looked equally solid in a partnership of 119 with Ponting, who completed his 137-ball century soon after tea.

Australia were only 10 minutes away from stumps when Ponting attempted another pull, but this time failed to keep it down and Brenton Parchment took the catch.

It did not disturb Hodge, however, and he lifted Jaggernauth for six to bring up his fifty before night-watchman Mitchell Johnson blocked out the final over of play.