Smith disappointed with Starc throw

Australia captain Steve Smith has censured Mitchell Starc after the paceman directed a throw more at batsman Mark Craig than the stumps on the final morning of the first Test in Brisbane.

UPDATE: Starc cops penalty from ICC

Having been hit for consecutive boundaries as Australia chased the final wicket of the match, Starc collected a Craig straight drive in his bowling follow-through and fired the ball back as the batsman retreated to the off-side, well clear of the stumps.

Starc’s throw missed the stumps by some distance but only missed Craig narrowly, leaving wicketkeeper Peter Nevill unable to prevent the ball rolling down to the rope for four overthrows.

"I thought it was pretty disappointing," Smith said post-match. "He's done it a few times and I'm going to have a word to him when I get back down in the sheds.

"I don't think it was necessary at the time and hopefully he can improve and get better from that."

It’s the second time in two months a Starc return from his own bowling has been at the centre of a controversy, after the Ben Stokes obstructing the field incident in at Lord’s in September.

On that occasion, Starc was well within his rights to attempt the run-out, however Smith said there was no such excuse this time around.

"I don't think he needs to apologise, I just don't think he needs to do it in the future," the captain said when asked if he’d be asking his paceman to seek out Craig or Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum post-match.

"There wasn't an opportunity for a run-out there and I think it was just a bit of frustration and he needs to let it out in other ways."

WATCH: McCullum's controversial decision

McCullum said he didn't feel there were any sinister motives in Starc's actions.

"I thought the game was played in really good spirits," McCullum said after play. 

"The way I looked at it, I hope that he was trying to aim at the stumps. 

"And if that’s the case and it just slipped then so be it, we’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. 

"I’m sure we’ll find out once we have a beer in the changeroom anyway." 

WATCH: Starc throw leads to Stokes out obstructing the field

New Zealand’s 10th-wicket stand of 46 was the fifth-most productive in their Test history, before ultimately it was Starc who ended the entertaining union, finding Trent Boult’s edge to put Australia ahead one-nil in this three-Test series.

The left-arm quick finished with match figures of 6-126, however Smith said there was room for improvement from his quicks, who struggled at times to maintain a consistent line and length for long periods.

"Our new-ball bowling probably needs a little bit of work," he said. "I thought we bowled a little bit too short for this wicket.

"We didn’t make them play enough balls down the ground to bring in our catchers behind the wicket, and bowleds and lbws.

"From my point of view, it’s about (them) getting the ball up there, trying to swing it a bit more and hopefully hitting our straps."

The second Commonwealth Bank Test begins on Friday in Perth.