More in 2013 review

• No dirges for Test cricket, and the importance of Misbah

  Five-day cricket is routinely written off, but 2013 proved it is in decent health - though pulling off a Test championship effectively may be a bridge too far

• The Ashes fractions, and the successors to Kallis and Tendulkar

  The year just gone by has been one of surprises and swings of fortune

• One stride forward, three back

  West Indies were mostly sloppy and lacked the resilient spirit that had come to define their cricket in 2012

• From shambolic to superstars

  Whitewashed in India, badly beaten in England and then lo and behold - a transformation and the return of the urn. Australia won't forget 2013 for a long time

• A fine year for home teams and left-arm pace

  Home teams lost only two Tests in 2013, while fast bowlers had their best year in Tests since 2000