Australia vs Pakistan 2016: 1st Test - 5 focus areas for Australia

Australian cricket is looking for a positive end to the calendar year after embarrassing Test series losses to Sri Lanka and South Africa, and will face Pakistan, who have had a decent run in Test cricket of late, despite losing their last series in New Zealand.

The Aussies were forced to swap many personnel after the loss at Hobart in the second Test against South Africa. The fresh faces delivered a convincing win in the final Test at Adelaide, a day-night affair. The same 12 have been retained for the day-night Test at Brisbane against Pakistan.

They will be wary of the Pakistanis who boast of a good bowling attack, although the participation of Yasir Shah, their biggest weapon in Tests remains doubtful. If Shah doesn't play in the first Test, which is a day-night encounter at Brisbane, it will be a huge blow for Pakistan as the pink ball is expected to favour wrist spinners, although it showed no such signs in Adelaide last month.

Here are the focus areas for Australia for the Brisbane Test against Pakistan.

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#5 Lower order issues

Mitchell Marsh will have to contribute lower down the order for the Aussies

Australia's familiar lower order issues weren't put to the test at Adelaide against South Africa. A new look lower order with Maddinson and Wade at 6 and 7 succumbed to the Proteas pacers under lights.

Mitchell Marsh had copped heavy criticism for his lack of form that contributed to Australia's long tail in Tests. Maddinson and Wade have an opportunity to cement their spots in the Test squad if they perform well.

Wade, replacing Peter Nevill, a far better keeper, is a gutsy batsman and has proven that in the past with valiant knocks from no. 7 in the few opportunities he has got. Maddinson is predominantly a limited overs player and needs to prove that he is much more than the duck he went for in his debut innings.

#4 Batting under the lights

The pink ball tends to spin more under lights

This will be an important area to focus on for both teams. Batting under the lights when the pink ball is at its best for the bowlers is a huge challenge and Australia need to step up in that regard. They are the first team to figure in more than one day-night match at international level and needs to show the way for others.

Pakistan have some able swing bowlers and the Proteas had exposed Australia's weakness against the swinging cherry. If Pakistan manages to do anything near what the Proteas did, they will cause problems for the Aussies under lights.

Usman Khawaja and Matt Renshaw looked like the only batsmen who were comfortable batting under lights going by the Adelaide Test. They will need the other Australian batsmen to step up and ensure that too many wickets aren't lost during that period.

#3 Warming up the newbies

Handscomb scored a half-century on debut

Renshaw, Handscomb and Maddinson are still relatively new in international cricket and Australia need to ensure they are warmed up for tougher competition well. Handscomb and Renshaw proved their mettle in Adelaide but need to continue their good starts to keep the experienced guys at bay.

It does not help that the three will start their Test career with two pink ball Tests. The usual batsman friendly wickets in Australia turn devious during the night with the pink ball and swing much more.

Maddinson, in particular, will be under the scanner when Australia come out to bat. He had replaced Adam Voges, who had a Bradman-esque average to boast of at the start of his career. Handscomb and Renshaw, on the other hand, need to carry on their good work.

#2 Dealing with Pakistan's seamers

Amir can be a handful in Australian conditions

Mohammad Amir, Sohail Khan and Rahat Ali are the deadly three that the Aussies will face with the pink ball under lights. Amir reduced the CA XI to 0/2 in the first two balls of the innings in the warm-up game.

A prodigious swinger of the cricket ball, Amir had excelled in his previous tour Down Under before he was banned. He will be aware of what awaits him and will be up to the challenge. He has two very good supporting bowlers in Ali and Sohail Khan.

Australia had been exposed by good swing bowling by the Proteas trio of Rabada, Philander and Abbott, and will be wary of Amir and co. when armed with the pink ball.

#1 Ensuring Pakistan do not bat well

The experienced duo of Misbah and Younis Khan are important batsmen for the Pakistanis

Pakistan have an experienced batting line-up with the likes of Azhar Ali, Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq. They have a couple of young talents in Babar Azam and Sami Aslam as well. However, the line-up has shown a tendency to crumble at times.

The batting struggled against the pink ball in the warm-up match against CA XI; that they were facing second string seamers did not help their cause either. In Brisbane, Starc, Hazlewood, Bird and possibly Sayers will be tasked with ensuring Pakistan do not get starts.

The seamers should utilise the pink ball to demolish Pakistan's batting line-up. Once settled, Ali, Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq can go on to knock a huge score and put pressure on Australia. The onus is on the seamers to ensure Pakistan are in with no chance.