Border: 'Smith needed to be aggressive'

Steve Smith was heavily criticised for setting defensive fields on day five at the Gabba before Australia sealed a nervy 39-run win against Pakistan.

Australia captain Steve Smith, according to Allan Border has "still has a way to go in his development as a Test captain".

Former Australia captain Allan Border believes Steve Smith "erred" in his tactics during the first Test against Pakistan, but feels the skipper is still developing.

Smith was heavily criticised for setting defensive fields on day five at the Gabba before Australia sealed a nervy 39-run win.

Border feels Smith, 27, still has a way to go in his development as a Test captain, saying a more aggressive approach was needed on the final day in Brisbane.

"He's new to it so he's learning all the time," he told Fox Sports.

"I think he erred on the last morning by not attacking straight away – 100 runs in the bank, two wickets to get. He probably could've attacked a little more in the first 20 minutes or so just to see how the game would unfold from there. But, apart from that, I thought it was an excellent game of cricket."

Australia leads the series 1-0 ahead of the second Test starting in Melbourne on Monday.