Steve Smith set the bar high in his first innings as captain of Australia – crafting a measured century to save Australia’s blushes in Brisbane.

Smith scored 133 at the Gabba on Friday, becoming the ninth Australian to post a century in their first Test as captain.

The 25-year-old is the first man to achieve the feat since Graham Yallop in 1978.

Smith reached triple figures in the 73rd over, cutting a wide ball from Varun Aaron to the fence.

The right-hander jumped in delight, kissed his helmet and pointed to the sky with his bat.

Smith is leading Australia in the absence of hamstrung skipper Michael Clarke.

He entered the fray with Australia 2-98 in Thursday’s second session.

If not for Smith’s 148-run stand with Mitchell Johnson, the hosts would have likely given up a big first-innings lead.

Australia have not lost at the Gabba since 1988 and Smith has done everything in his power to extend that streak.

Aside from his knock, Smith snaffled a diving one-handed catch at second slip to dismiss Rohit Sharma on day two.

He rotated his bowlers well, despite Josh Hazlewood (cramps), Mitch Marsh (hamstring) and Mitchell Starc (back and ribs) all leaving the field on day one.

Since cementing his place in Australia’s XI last year, Smith has been in outstanding form with the bat.

He is averaging 82.90 from 14 Test innings this year, while his current series average is 347.

AUSTRALIANS TO SCORE A HUNDRED ON TEST CAPTAINCY DEBUT

*153no – Billy Murdoch v England, 1880

*143 – Harry Trott v England, 1896

*133 – Monty Noble v England, 1903

*191 – Clem Hill v South Africa, 1910

*158 – Warwick Armstrong v England, 1920

*112 – Lindsay Hassett v South Africa, 1940

*123 and 109no – Greg Chappell v West Indies, 1975

*102 – Graham Yallop v England, 1978

*133 – Steve Smith v India, 2014

THE RISE AND RISE OF STEVE SMITH

TEST RECORD:

*912 runs from 14 innings at 82.90 in 2014

*327 runs from 9 innings at 40.87 v England in 2013/14

*269 runs from 5 innings at 67.25 v South Africa in 2014

*174 runs from 4 innings at 43.50 v Pakistan in 2014

*347 runs from 3 innings at 347 v India in 2014/15.