Steve Smith suffered a tough start to life as a Test opener as Shamar Joseph dismissed him for 12 with his first ball in Test cricket.

Debutant Joseph also hit valuable runs with the bat as his 36 helped the West Indies to 188 all out on day one of the first Test at the Adelaide Oval. 

Smith, who volunteered his services to replace the retired David Warner at the head of the innings, was looking controlled on 12 when Joseph entered the attack and snapped up an outside edge at the first time of asking.

The 24-year-old's dream start to life in international cricket continued when he had Marnus Labuschagne caught hooking to leave the Baggy Greens 59 for two at stumps.

Between them, Joseph's two victims boast more than 13,000 Test runs and 43 centuries and he was beaming by close of play.

"Getting Steve Smith, I'll remember this for the rest of my life," he said.

"I'll actually take a picture, and post it up in my house. If I could have run over (the stands), I would have. It was really a joy for me."

Despite the positivity around their newcomer, the West Indies still have a mountain to climb after being rolled over inside 63 overs. Kirk McKenzie's 50 was the best they could muster, with Joseph's late cameo the next highest, as Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood took four wickets apiece.