No dirges for Test cricket, and the importance of Misbah

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

The Ashes fractions, and Kallis and Tendulkar's successors

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

When the hosts ruled

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

AB, Ajmal and Co

ESPNcricinfo staff picks: The cream of the crop - Test, ODI and T20I XIs of 2013

The urn returns, and Tendulkar signs off in style

ESPNcricinfo staff picks: Sri Lanka's post-war healing, Australia's travails and more in the best and worst of the year gone by

Ashraful cries, Johnson terrifies

ESPNcricinfo staff picks: Australia's Ashes revival, Afghanistan's fairy tale, player boycotts and more in the best and worst of the year gone by

Enthusiastic in-laws and Ashes slugfests

Quotes of the year: When administrators said the darnedest things, and cricketers were sometimes funny

An electric instability

Pakistan: When they won in 2013, it was magnificent; when they lost, it made for dynamite drama. In short, just another year. By Osman Samiuddin

Big fish in a small pond

Ireland: They are undoubtedly masters among the minnows but they continued to be disappointed at not getting chances against the big boys

The tussle for crumbs

Associates: Canada and Kenya tripped up while Afghanistan, Nepal, Netherlands and UAE made some loud noises

The year of the underdog

Women's cricket: West Indies, Pakistan and Ireland stamped their authority on the field, while Australia, New Zealand and South Africa made significant progress off it

An administrative farce

Sri Lanka: The board's continuing ineptness meant a paucity of Tests, alienation of senior players, and another cancelled T20 league

Blowing hot and cold

New Zealand: It was an improvement on 2012's annus horribilis but their search for consistency continues. By Andrew Alderson

Speeding upwards

Afghanistan: Their year included a historic World Cup qualification and a near-perfect record against all Associates and Affiliates except Ireland. By Tim Wigmore

Splendid and dismal

Zimbabwe: They produced moments of brilliance on the field that gave just enough succour to keep hopes of a better future alive. By Liam Brickhill