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Pat Cummins says he had Steve Smith to thank for the wicket of Ben Stokes on day four of the first Ashes Test.

More exacting challenges await for Pat Cummins and Steve Smith but the early signs were all positive for Australia's new leaders.

Cummins enjoyed a dream start to his captaincy, helping deliver a nine-wicket win for Australia inside four days of the first Ashes Test.

The paceman recorded match figures of 7-89 at the Gabba.

Cummins, the first Australian bowler to don the blazer since Richie Benaud, also juggled his added responsibility with aplomb.

The advice of Smith regarding field settings and bowling changes proved key, as Cummins foreshadowed when first appointed Tim Paine's successor as skipper.

The fast bowler recounted one particular conversation, which preceded Ben Stokes' dismissal on Saturday.

"I was going to bowl Starcy (Mitchell Starc) for one more. Smithy tapped me on the shoulder," Cummins said.

"He said 'I think it's your turn'. So I went up and gave him a big high five (after Stokes' dismissal).

"He was a big part of that wicket."

Cummins said he "couldn't ask for much more" after the Test, praising teammates for sticking at it throughout Joe Root and Dawid Malan's 162-run stand.

"It felt like everything went out way day one and two, luck (as well)," he said.

"Then it was just a good reminder that it's Test cricket, there's going to be tough days ... you're playing against the best players in the world.

"We were really calm ... there was no panic."

Cummins was briefly stumped when asked what roller he wanted at the change of innings, while losing the toss meant he avoided making a decision that could have redefined the course of the Test.

The 28-year-old noted there were few changes to his standard routine during the Test, apart from spending less time indoors when teammates batted.

"I normally sit down in the change room and watch," Cummins said.

"But there was a two-second delay and that was annoying me because the crowd were going crazy, I wasn't sure if it was a four or a wicket.

"I was pretty relaxed. There's not much I can do in a batting innings.

"Out there on the field, I felt like I got a little bit better as the game went on; just concentrated on my own bowling."

The series continues on Thursday, when a day-night Test starts at Adelaide Oval.