Sport Comment: Why this scene should have Aussies smiling

Marnus Labuschagne and Australia's openers flourished in the hosts' first innings against Pakistan at the Gabba.

The top-order runs were a welcome relief after this year's Ashes series, where Australia consistently found themselves on the back foot early.

© AAP Steve Smith dismissed for four

But while Australia's stocks flourished in Queensland, its talisman floundered.

Steve Smith, the nation's unequivocal hero at the crease, fell for a dismal four, dismissed cheaply by long-time bogey Yasir Shah in a rush of blood to the head.

It's a rare scene, and one that history would lead us to believe should normally be flipped.

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But for former Australian skipper Mark Taylor, Smith's soft dismissal is a blessing in disguise.

A 222 run opening partnership between Joe Burns and David Warner, followed by a stellar 185 maiden Test century from Labuschagne may just be firming as early signs that Australia is finally loosening its dependence on Smith to make runs – and the nation should rejoice.

"That's what the Australian batsman have been talking about all week leading up this game," Taylor revealed to Wide World of Sports. "That we have to bat batter and not rely on Steve Smith.

© Getty Smith is dismissed for just four runs

"In this innings its truly been Burns, Warner and Labuschagne. The 222 run stand between Burns and Warner got Australia off to the perfect start. That's obviously a big improvement on what happened in England where all our opening partnerships were under 20.

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"To me it was no surprise today that Smith didn't make runs, it was almost like, not that he was trying to get out but there's a totally different mindset going in at 2-300 or something compared to 2-13 or whatever he went in for in England.

"Obviously, he was relaxed, he was trying to force the play and because the focus wasn't quite there because he knew that in a way the job was not absolutely done, but it was a long way to being done and the focus wasn't quite there.

"If Steve Smith had walked out there at 2-34 he could have played very differently to the way he played today. That to me is not of concern at all. I'm sure Australian cricket nor Steve Smith will be too concerned about his dismissal today."

Smith's four runs marked the first time in 69 Test match career that he was outscored by every one of his teammates.

The only Australian not to pass 50 at the time, Smith looked in a hurry as he tried to whip a full Yasir Shah ball behind square.

Ever the perfectionist, the run machine was back in the Gabba nets during the lunch break, getting his fix after he was skittled.

It is the seventh time in 10 innings the legspinner has dismissed the former Australian captain, who still needs 23 runs in his next five innings to become the quickest to 7000 Test runs.

Coming off a 774-run series - averaging 110.57 - against England, Smith was almost assumed to fill his boots in his return to home Test cricket after the ball tampering ban.

So there was widespread surprise when he came and went in a flash and perhaps no coincidence as Yasir celebrated with a seven-finger salute as Smith walked off.