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Match factsDecember 15-19, 2016 Start time 1300 local (0300 GMT)Big PictureA day-night Test for Brisbane has been unveiled in order to draw greater crowds to the Gabba, but the combination of the pink ball, floodlights and the grounds often lively pitch will make for a high octane contest between two sides well stocked with speed. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood have both prospered here in the past, the latter notably putting on a sublime display on debut against India to help deliver a victory in Steven Smiths first match as Australian captain. Starc, meanwhile, has been shifting up through the gears since he was rushed back from injury against South Africa, and appears to be finding his very best rhythm in time for Brisbane.Pakistan, of course, have a surfeit of pacemen capable of making the ball bend, in Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Amir a left-arm combination duo capable of reducing any batting order to ruins. Dangerous, too, will be the wristspin of Yasir Shah, on a ground Shane Warne has always professed to love, though Australias batsmen have historically attacked visiting spin bowlers with significant success in Brisbane - just ask Graeme Swann. Critical to the visitors chances of unseating the Australians at a ground they feel more at home at than any other will be the holding of catches - scores went down during the recent series loss in New Zealand, with the fielding coach Steve Rixon trying to rectify that in Australia.While the hosts have plenty of advantages, not least greater experience against the pink ball, it should not be forgotten that Australias confidence is only in the very early stages of restoration, following five consecutive defeats that culminated in the Hobart humiliation. Pakistan, by contrast, were humbled across the Tasman but have a far sturdier record behind them earlier in the year - the share of a series in England to briefly claim the world No. 1 ranking was a remarkable achievement. In what shapes to be one of the captain Misbah-ul-Haqs final series, a victory in Australia would be the sweetest icing on his cake. To start that quest at the Gabba in conditions that will suit his pacemen but challenge his batsmen will turn to be either a blessing or curseForm guide(last five completed matches, most recent first) ? Australia: WLLLL Pakistan: LLLWWIn the spotlightSo far this summer, Usman Khawaja has batted with plenty of determination to succeed, cutting down on some of the more flamboyant strokeplay he offered up last season to become a senior member of the Australian top order. His sound judgment of line will be critical in Brisbane, a ground he knows well as captain of Queensland. It will be up to him, Matt Renshaw and David Warner to ward off Pakistans considerable new ball threat.Before England, before the no-ball, before the prison sentence and the exile from the game, Mohammad Amir came to Australia as a teenager on Pakistans last Test series visit and impressed all with his speed, swing and stamina. Older and wiser, he still has the ability to swing the ball at high pace, and has the potential to cause chaos in the Australian batting order if he gets it right - and if Pakistan are able to hold onto their catches.Teams newsAustralia are set to take an unchanged team into the Gabba Test following their victory, also with the pink ball, over South Africa in Adelaide.Australia (probable) 1 Matt Renshaw, 2 David Warner, 3 Usman Khawaja, 4 Steven Smith (capt), 5 Peter Handscomb, 6 Nic Maddinson, 7 Matthew Wade (wk), 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Josh Hazlewood, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Jackson BirdMisbah-ul-Haq and Yasir Shah were both missing from Pakistans previous Test XI against New Zealand, but both are expected to resume their customary positions in Brisbane.Pakistan (probable) 1 Sami Aslam, 2 Azhar Ali, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Younis Khan, 5 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Asad Shafiq, 7 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 8 Wahab Riaz, 9 Yasir Shah, 10 Mohammad Amir, 11 Rahat AliPitch and conditionsKevin Mitchell Jnr, the Gabba curator, is shaving the grass on the pitch down to 2mm - considerably shorter than for the Adelaide day-night Test and a pretty standard level for any Gabba Test. Pretty well standard, along the same lines as normal, he said. Weve got a reasonable amount of grass cover on the wicket so we think thats going to play the same as a normal day Test.The surface will nonetheless be hard and bouncy with some lateral movement on offer for the pacemen early on. The unknown is how it will play at night - the pink ball can be expected to swing. The weather forecast is fine initially with the chance of some rain over the weekend.Stats and triviaPakistan have never beaten Australia in Brisbane, losing three times and drawing onceThe most recent meeting between the sides was in the first Test of the 1999 series. Australia won by 10 wickets in what was Adam Gilchrists debut matchPakistan drew series in Australia in 1976-77 and 1978-79 but have lost every series since - seven in allQuotesFor us the key is adapting to conditions, and if we can adapt to conditions quick enough well be fine. I constantly remind the players if we can be getting 270, 280, 300, were in the game because weve got the ability to take 20 wickets. Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur Cheap Jordan 13 For Sale . "We have always prided ourselves on the way we play defence. Having two big pieces back is going to be a key for us moving forward for years to come," said Knighthawks head coach Mike Hasen. Cheap Air Jordan 13 Australia . After taking two big hits this week -- losing at home and dropping back-to-back games for the first time all season -- Indiana struck back by playing its most complete game of the year. http://www.airjordan13australia.com/ . -- Cam Newton pranced into the end zone, placed his hands over his chest and did his familiar Superman pose. Wholesale Air Jordan 13 Australia .Y. -- Canadas Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse have another World Cup gold medal after winning the two-women bobsled race on Saturday in Lake Placid, N. Air Jordan 13 Australia Online . The Olympic champion curler and TSN curling analyst immediately went online to look at the Halls long list of honoured members. Thats when the enormity of the honour sunk in. SAN JOSE, Costa Rica -- The United States put itself in a deep hole in World Cup qualifying with one of its worst performances in decades.Taking advantage of defensive mistakes, Costa Rica routed the U.S. 4-0 Tuesday night to drop the Americans to 0-2 for the first time in the final round of the North and Central American and Caribbean region.A very, very bitter moment for us. Theres no doubt about it, U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann said. We didnt imagine going into the hexagonal with two defeats right at the beginning.Johan Venegas scored in the 43rd minute, Cristian Bolanos doubled the lead in the 69th and second-half substitute Joel Campbell beat beleaguered goalkeeper Brad Guzan in the 74th and 77th minutes in the worst margin of defeat for the U.S. in a qualifier since a 5-1 defeat at Mexico in November 1980.It was the biggest losing shutout margin in a qualifier since the U.S. fell 6-0 at Mexico in 1957.Combined with Fridays 2-1 loss to Mexico at Columbus, Ohio, the U.S. finds itself in a quick deficit in the hexagonal, which resumes in March.Im very disappointed, obviously, U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati said. Theres obviously some concern. Mexico qualified with 12 points. Theres a lot of points left on the board -- 24 to be exact.Ticos fans sounded air horns at the end of a match that reignited questioning of Klinsmanns tactics. The U.S. dropped to 0-9-1 in qualifiers at Costa Rica.Klinsmann is still confident hes the right person to lead the team, but understands the scrutiny.When you lose two games and obviously two World Cup qualifiers right after each other, there will be a lot of comments, he said.The Americans, who had had not lost a home qualifier in 15 years before last week, figure they will win their four remaining home games and pick up points on the road.The top three teams qualify for the 2018 tournament in Russia, and the No. 4 finisher advances to a playoff against Asias fifth-place nation.I said to the team that it wont be the last 4-nil defeat in their career, Klinsmann said. Well get here some lessons but definitely its a bitter moment because we wanted to do far, far better than what we did.Central defenders John Brooks and Omar Gonzalez, and right back Timmy Chandler had particularly poor games. Brooks and Omar Gonzalez started in the center of the back line. Geoff Cameron, who usually starts alongside Brooks, missed both qualifiers this month after hyperextending a knee during Stokes Premier League match against Hull on Oct. 22.Costa Rica, which won its opener 2-0 at Trinidad and Tobago, wentt ahead after a Brooks giveaway.dddddddddddd Randall Azofeifa took a short pass from Jose Salvatierra in the center circle and played a long ball into the corner, where Bolanos ran it down on its third bounce. Gonzalez was slow to close on Bolanos, who crossed for Venegas just outside the 6-yard box. Bolanos beat Brooks to the ball and sent a header across Guzan for his seventh goal in 30 international appearances.Bolanos scored after a turnover by 18-year-old midfielder Christian Pulisic near midfield. Salvatierra sent a pass down the flank to Venagas, and his cross found Bolanos in front, with Chandler a step late.Ronald Matarrita created the final two goals by Campbell. On the last goal, Campbell took the ball over Brooks right foot as the American defender stabbed to make a play to no avail. He was a step behind all night on the slick, chunked-up turf.There was some whistling during The Star-Spangled Banner from the capacity crowd of about 35,000 in Estadio Nacional, where the field is surrounded by an athletics track and crowd noise dissipates -- even from a band in the second deck. The venue appears less intimidating to visitors than old Estadio Ricardo Saprissa, where fans were directly behind the benches.Chandler at right back and midfielder Jermaine Jones are suspended for the next qualifier, at home on March 24 against Honduras, because of yellow-card accumulation. Both were cautioned by Mexican referee for fouls against Costa Rica captain Bryan Ruiz, Chandler in the 11th minute and Jones in the 37th.Costa Rica, a 2014 World Cup quarterfinalist, nearly went ahead in the 14th minute when Bolanos centered for Ruiz, who chested the ball and sent an overhead kick directly into Guzans face. And in the 57th, Venegas beat Chandler to a punt by Navas and had a clear shot on Guzan, who made a leg save.While Bolanos repeatedly sliced diagonal long balls through the midfield, the U.S. rarely threatened. Pulisic took a pass from Jones in the 20th, dribbled to the end line and crossed, but Bobby Wood couldnt get to the ball before goalkeeper Keylor Navas. Wood slid the ball behind Navas in the 41st, but the U.S. didnt have anyone in front.Game notes Honduras (2-0) beat visiting Trinidad and Tobago 3-1 on goals by Romell Quioto in the 16th, Emilio Izaguirre in the 19th and Eddie Hernandez in the 80th. Carlyle Mitchell scored in the 51st for the Soca Warriors (0-2). ... Mexico played to a 0-0 draw at Panama. ' ' '