BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 15: Steve Smith celebrates his century during day one of the First Test match between Australia and Pakistan at The Gabba on December 15, 2016 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Jason O'Brien/Getty Images)

Australian captain Steve Smith smashed his 16th Test century on day one of Australia's Test with Pakistan, as the hosts currently find themselves in the box seat.

Smith and Peter Handscomb will resume day two with an unbeaten 137-run partnership in hand, as Smith (110*) and Handscomb (64*) led Australia to 3/288 at stumps.

Earlier in the day Smith won the toss for the first time in six Tests and decided to bat, a decision that both captains would have made had they won the coin flip.

David Warner and Matt Renshaw opened impressively for the hosts, but at stages were put under pressure from the Pakistani bowlers.

Warner was then trapped lbw by Mohammad Amir on 32, and after Usman Khawaja came and went for four, Australia were suddenly 2/75 and under the pump.

Smith then came in and steadied the ship, putting on a 76-run stand with Renshaw before he was caught behind off the bowling of Wahab Riaz for 71, after making his maiden Test half-century.

At 3/216 disaster struck for Pakistan, as a routine save in the field from Amir turned in to something much worse.

The paceman got his knee caught in the ground after trying to slide to stop a four, but instead found himself clutching at his knee and looking in serious pain.

Amir would be taken from the ground but amazingly returned six overs later, as the diagnosis would suggest the left-armer didn't suffer any structural damage.

Amir was then in the thick of the action again when Smith was on 97, as a fantastic ball narrowly swung past Smith's bat. Or so everyone thought.

Hot spot showed the faintest of edges from Smith on the shot, although in real time not one Pakistani player appealed in any capacity, as Smith clearly dodged a bullet just three runs short of another century.

He would reach triple figures soon after, which saw the Aussie skipper score a Test ton against every nation since making his debut at Lord's in 2010.