Ricky Ponting, the Australia captain, admitted his new-look side now know just how high their standards must be if they are to retain their No.1 ranking, following a 2-0 series defeat by India.

Having lost bowlers Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne and wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist to retirement, only Ponting, Michael Clarke, Simon Katich and Matthew Hayden from the current squad had Test experience in India prior to this tour.

The home side rounded off the series by winning the fourth Test by 172 runs, and moved up to second place in the world rankings, only 13 points behind Australia.

"That's the lessons we've all learned, particularly the younger guys, about how high that level has to be if you want to win Tests series in this part of the world," said Ponting. "The expectations of all of us probably have to go down slightly when you lose some of the great players we've lost, but I still expect a certain level of play from the Australian team.

"You don't get to wear the baggy green Test cap unless you're an exceptionally talented and hard-working cricketer."

The Indians won the second test at Mohali by a record 320 runs to go 1-0 up in the series. Australia's bowlers then managed to take only 12 Indian wickets in the drawn third Test and Ponting gambled by handing off-spinner Jason Krejza his debut in the final Test.

The 25 year-old, who had a spell in Scottish cricket with Greenock three years ago, took eight wickets in the first innings for a match haul of 12 wickets, enough to win him the man of the match award, despite his side's comprehensive defeat.

Ponting said: "Jason's debut is astounding, really. For someone to take 12 wickets on debut is a magnificent achievement. He's stood up to be counted probably more than anybody else in the Australian squad has in the whole series with his one opportunity."

It was Australia's first series defeat since the 2005 Ashes, but they will have little time to reflect because they face New Zealand in a two-Test series later this month. "It's a short turnaround for us," Ponting conceded. "We've another Test in a week and a half's time or whatever it is and have to make sure when we get back to Australia against New Zealand that we're doing things a lot better than we have here."

Ponting also defended his decision to use part-time bowlers on the fourth day of the Test, insisting it was not to save himself from a possible one-match ban for repeated slow over-rate offences.

The Australian captain, who has been fined twice this year for a slow over-rate, brought on Mike Hussey and Michael Clarke on Sunday to improve the over-rate when Australia had India in trouble at 166 for six. The move was criticised by several former Australian players and Cricket Australia is to question Ponting on his move.

However, he insisted: "The thing I'm most disappointed about is there seems to be this inference out there that I've put myself totally ahead of the team. Anybody that knows me or knows the way I play my cricket or operate around the Australian team or any team would hopefully not say that's the case. I'd like to think, as far as team players go, that there haven't been many that have ever played for Australia that would do more than I have for the team."

India exploited the opportunity to recover as Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh hit 50s and shared in a 108-run stand.

Ponting pointed out that he had off-spinner Krejza bowling from one end and used Cameron White, who had been picked as the first-choice spinner, operating from the other end for a few overs.

He added: "Michael Clarke was the next choice. He'd been off the field ill and couldn't bowl until 3.10pm and, being in the situation that we were, nine overs down, as captain of the Australian cricket team I have a responsibility to play the game in the right spirit.

"I have an obligation to try to bowl 90 overs in the day's play and, the way we were heading, if the quicks had continued we would've been maybe 12 overs down by the time the day ended, so they're some of the reasons why it was that way.

"At no stage did I ever feel it was totally negative at the other end. With White, I felt he'd be as good a chance as anybody of getting Harbahjan out. As soon as Clarke was fit he came back on and it's only a few months ago he won us a Test in Sydney with his bowling."