First Test just a start says Clarke

His team has just won a Test inside three days to register only their third victory on foreign soil in more than three years, but captain Michael Clarke isn't getting too excited about Australia's nine-wicket victory over the West Indies in Dominica.

In the first of nine Tests Australia will play away from home this year, Clarke stressed that his side still had plenty of work to do ahead of the second Test in Jamaica next week and the start of the Ashes a month from now.

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The captain was understandably pleased with the result and singled out debutant centurion Adam Voges for praise as well as his bowlers, who took 20 West Indian wickets in just 140 overs.

But he was far from completely satisfied.

"It's a good start," Clarke said.

"It's obviously very pleasing, but it's a start. Let's not get carried away.

"I think individuals will look at their own games and see where they can improve and obviously shot selection is an area where we can be more disciplined and selective with.

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"Our first innings I think Vogesy showed the attitude, the composure, the time you've got to spend in the middle to make big runs in these conditions and the hunger as well.

"Being his first Test he was obviously extremely hungry to perform well, so I think we can learn from that.

"And I guess our execution with the brand new ball, especially in the first innings, the first hour we probably weren't as disciplined as we would have liked.

"But again credit to the bowlers to be able to turn that around in the second innings."

The Aussie bowlers proved too strong on day three

As comprehensive as the victory margin was here at Windsor Park, the match was on a knife edge when spinner Devendra Bishoo helped reduce the tourists to 6-126 in their first innings, still 28 runs behind the home side's total.

Devendra Bishoo showed glimpses of brilliance

And when Marlon Samuels and Shane Dowrich put on a 144-run stand today, giving the home side a narrow lead with seven wickets in hand on a wicket that was turning significantly, Australia were facing the prospect of a tricky run chase on the fourth day.

But Voges and the bowlers bailed the Australians out.

Adam Voges had a debut to savour in Dominica

On Thursday, the debutant worked brilliantly with the tail to put on 192 for the final four wickets and secure a 170-run lead on his way to a match-winning innings of 130 not out.

And today, the bowlers ripped through the Windies lower order either side of tea, taking 7-35 to set up a simple run chase of 47.

Clarke and coach Darren Lehmann have spoken numerous times about their desire to reverse Australia's recent away record, which before this match included 10 losses from 14 Tests since Australia's 2-0 series victory here in 2012.Image Id: ~/media/94757AA569A84C8B967C272027F87496

Clarke led Australia to a series win in 2012 // Getty Images

And they have a perfect opportunity to improve that record over the next six months, with two Tests in Caribbean, the five-match Ashes series - which Australia haven't won away from home since 2001 - and a two-Test series in Bangladesh.

"I think we played really well as a team to be honest in conditions that are certainly opposite to what you're accustomed to in Australia," Clarke said.

"I think we bowled really well in our first innings, we found a way to get a good lead and then I thought we fought really hard throughout today on a wicket that was extremely slow, so there wasn't much there for our bowlers.

"To be able to take 20 wickets is credit to the way they fought.

"I've always been a big believer in I don't care who takes the wickets, who gets the runs, it's about getting it done and I think we did that as a team.

"(Today) certainly was about finding a way to get that breakthrough and then we had confidence on that wicket it was always going to be hard to start.

"I think that's a good example of playing against teams in their own backyard - they know conditions really well and once they get in they're really hard to get out.

"So we had to be really patient and disciplined."

Despite stressing the victory was just the beginning ahead of another eight Tests in foreign conditions this year, Clarke was undoubtedly pleased.

But he dismissed any suggestion that the rapid end to today's match would have a lasting effect on a young Windies side ahead of the second Test in Kingston, starting on Thursday.

"We won a Test match in three days so we should be really happy," he said.

"It doesn't matter where you play in the world against what team. If you can win a Test match in three days you're doing a lot of things right so the boys deserve a lot of credit.

"I think winning the first Test of the series is important. How long it took was irrelevant, if it took five days so be it.

"Obviously now two days extra to recover helps the bowlers in particular to freshen up for Jamaica, but I don't care if we won on the last ball of the day on day five.

"It was about doing everything we could to win this Test match and the boys certainly did that."