Test cricket still delivers thrilling contests Loading Anyone who flicked over to Sri Lanka's stunning run chase against South Africa in Durban on Saturday night would have expected the Proteas, with Dale Steyn and Kagiso Rabada in menacing moods, to surge to victory when their opponents slipped to 5-110. Instead, they witnessed something special from Sri Lanka. Chasing 304 to win, the tourists - complete with a new captain after their dire tour of Australia and still dealing with an ICC match-fixing investigation - conjured one of the great run chases of all time. One-time discard Kusal Perera, smashed in the head by a bouncer during the Test against Australia in Canberra, produced an unbeaten 153 and shared in a couple of match-turning stands, including a record 10th-wicket partnership of 78 with Vishwa Fernando, to give his side a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series. South African skipper Faf du Plessis summed up the mood of anyone who had witnessed what he said it had been a "Superman effort".

"It should show people, whether it's three or four or five days, that it is still the No.1 format if you see games of cricket like this," du Plessis said. "It's incredible the amount of times the game goes to the opposition and then comes to you and goes back. It's always that to and fro. It's great to be part of an amazing Test match." Such was the magnitude of the win that a draw in Port Elizabeth would make Sri Lanka, ranked sixth in the world, the first Asian side to win a Test series in South Africa. Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara took to Twitter to declare: "One of the best if not THE best overseas win by [Sri Lanka] Kusal Janith Perera was unreal." The Windies are back - or so we hope

This might have been a series between two flawed sides, as Mike Atherton noted, but the 2-1 series win by the West Indies against England was as entertaining as any we have seen in recent times. Now boasting a formidable pace attack led by Kemar Roach, the Windies, guided by the impressive Jason Holder, enjoyed their first Test series win over England since 2009 and their first against a side other than Bangladesh and Zimbabwe since 2012. It was also the first time the Windies had won two Tests against England in 21 years, showing a will to fight that too often has been absent since their glory days as the "Calypso Kings" ended in the late 1990s. Roston Chase celebrates a century against England. Credit:AP The Windies are still eighth in the ICC rankings - ahead of only Zimbabwe and Bangladesh - but world cricket hopes they can be the bolter when the new future tours program begins this year. They also have a point to prove, for their long-term woes have meant they won't play a Test series against Australia until they tour here in 2022-23. India are a force India may be the financial power of the sport but it's become clear over the past decade supporters are more interested in the shorter formats, particularly since the introduction of the Indian Premier League. Attendances at Tests have been abysmal at times - a shock for anyone who remembers the mass appeal - and friendly madness - of the 2001 series against Australia, while there was a period when India barely played a handful of Tests a year.

In skipper Virat Kohli, India now have a dashing batsman who is keen to protect the long-form product, and is more often than not keen to lead with victory as his sole intent. That India is the No.1 ranked Test nation can only help to ensure Test cricket retains its primacy in its most important market. Indian captain Virat Kohli leads the No.1 Test nation. Credit:AAP There is no stand-out nation India may be ranked No.1 but until their maiden series victory in Australia this summer there was an asterisk against their standing because they had been beaten in South Africa and in England through 2018. England were shock losers in the Caribbean but had prevailed in Sri Lanka - an area of the world Australia have become clueless in. Australia have not claimed an Ashes victory in England since 2001 but, despite the troubles of the past year, they could head there this year as favourites to retain the tiny urn. The relative evenness of several nations means there should be more tight tussles - a boon for supporters, broadcaster and sponsors. How many Twenty20 innings do you remember?