No other sport offers the same challenges that Test cricket puts on its participants. The demands of succeeding in stifling conditions and on an array of pitches which can offer swing, seam, pace, bounce and spin over five days worth of six hours requires massive mental and physical strength.
Batsmen have to overcome a full examination of their technique and show constant vigilance (as said in Harry Potter) to build a big score. Fast bowlers have to be prepared to run in for a fifth spell at the end of a day in 40 degree heat and spinners have to wheel away on pitches which rarely offer any assistance until day three at the earliest.
Winter time in England means three things: football, darts and cricket. With Test series going on around the world there have been some interesting developments with more to come as we head into best time of the year for cricket watchers.
England
Cricket is blessed by so many fine and reasoned writers (and the one-eyed Malcolm Conn) that the literature following England's surrendering of the Ashes has been a pleasure to read. The following talking points have emerged: should the senior players be dropped? Is Ben Stokes the new Botham/Flintoff/Ealham (ok, nobody is that good)? Will Andy Flower stay on in his role?
England's performances in the first three Tests against an Australian side who had not won any of their preceding nine matches have been as woeful as most have seen in their lifetimes. Since the opening 90 overs in Brisbane, it's hard to remember England actually winning a single day in the series and have been pummelled in most of them.
But talk of dropping many of the senior players is far too premature. James Anderson has had his first bad series for years and has not been helped by being forced on to the field day-after-day after batting collapses. Graeme Swann is still the best spinner in England and there are no viable alternatives. Matt Prior looks completely devoid of form and should - in my view - be taken out the firing line for the remaining two Tests and be given the start of the county season (following a rest) to get form and confidence back.
Clearly, Alastair Cook will not be dropped and hopefully home series against a weak Sri Lankan attack and an Indian side who he has feasted on in the past will ease him back into the runs.
The other issue is Kevin Pietersen. His dismissals this time around are indefensible and cannot be excused just because he plays aggressively. When a team is under pressure you want your players to fight like Cook did, rather than chip aerially to two mid-wickets or take on long-on against the wind.
Since England hammered India at home in 2011 to become the number one ranked side, Pietersen has hit been massively hit-and-miss. In 24 Tests since he has hit brilliant centuries in India and Sri Lanka and at home to South Africa and Australia. But for someone who reached his 100th Test in Brisbane, the way he's played this series has been horrible to watch.
Pietersen has always been allowed leeway because of the way he plays. But for a man of his talent to average under 48 is criminal. He should be up there with Clarke, Amla, De Villiers, Chanderpaul and now Pujara as Test cricket's most consistent scorers.
For a man who is enthral with the IPL and the love he gets from the Indian crowd, there will always be a worry he packs Tests in to play the quicker formats in front of huge audiences. That will become more likely if his knee problems re-occur.
With England's batting being nothing short of woeful in the past 12 months, and with their rock Jonathan Trott possibly gone for good, England need more consistency from their number four than the occasional match-winning knock if they are to recover.
Looking ahead
Michael Atherton made the excellent point that this Ashes debacle has given Cook a great chance to create his own team, one which moves away from the one his predecessor Andrew Strauss (alongside Flower) put together.
That does not mean move aside great swathes of players, but gradually freshen up the team. Stokes is the obvious example of an aggressive, tough cricketer which Australia have incorporated into their team. Although still extremely raw, there is no choice but to stick with him now and hope he can find his top game in Test cricket's harsh environment. Stuart Broad and Flintoff's early struggles as all-rounders show why the international game is not an ideal place to improve your game, but a lack of alternatives make it the only choice.
Steven Finn is the biggest worry. If he can rediscover his best form, England will have another weapon to utilise in all conditions, and in a five-man attack his bad days can be excused. Alongside bringing through another spinner, getting Finn back to where he was should be England's biggest ambition.
The only other change needs to come in the batting order. England's iconic series wins in Australia and India (and at home against the same country) came from big top order runs. For that reason it is time to see Ian Bell move up to three. He has spoken throughout his career of becoming a great number three and at this stage of his career it is time to see him setting up the innings rather than rescuing it. Ricky Ponting has always said that the best batsman should be at three and at the moment the only player who looks at ease with his game is Bell. It is time to put him back in that pivotal position.
My England side to take on Sri Lanka:
1. Cook
2. Carberry
3. Bell
4. Pietersen
5. Root
6. Stokes
7. Prior
8. Bresnan
9. Broad
10. Swann
11. Anderson
Back-ups: Ballance, Buttler, Finn
This team has a good blend of youth and experience and aggression and solidity. And the players ready to come in are young, exciting and match-winners.
Whether the man to oversee this transition is Flower depends on whether he has the motivation or not. If he does, then he should be given the chance.
But as bad as things have been, let's not forget that in 2010/11 many of these players walloped an Australian team that was comparable with the one on show now. Back then England's players were confident and in form and this time it is Australia's. But if these two teams were to meet anywhere in the world in a few months' time, I'd still back England to come out on top.
For an assessment on how Darren Lehmann has turned around Australia (written after the Brisbane Test) then you only have to look here http://www.thesportreview.com/tsr/2013/11/ashes-2013-14-four-reasons-behind-australias-resurgence/
World game showcases new stars
The Ashes may be the biggest Test series in the world, but it is not the only one going on at the moment. Here is the latest report on each nation:
New Zealand v. West Indies
New Zealand dominated England in a 0-0 draw at the start of the year. Although England's recent travails suggest this might not be such a Ron Burgundy (a big deal) it showed that the Black Caps are once again establishing themselves as a cricketing bogey team; not good enough to challenge at the top of the rankings, but a reliable team able to cause a surprise against a bigger name.
A new-ball pairing of Tim Southee and Trent Boult offers swing and control and New Zealand have their own new all-rounder in Corey Anderson who has chipped in with wickets in all five of his Tests and is a capable number six bat.
New Zealand have shown they are planning for the future by the introduction of the extremely raw leg-spinner Ish Sodhi who has a first-class record of 53 and has taken some tap at the hands of Shiv Chanderpaul.
Hamish Rutherford has made only one fifty since his debut 171 against England, but is being stuck with alongside the experienced Peter Fulton. The batting is still largely dependant on Ross Taylor who has cashed in against the West Indies and it is time for the continually promising Kane Williamson to improve his average of 35 which has been driven from sub-continent runs.
With the attacking blade of Brendon McCullum and tough runs from wicket-keeper BJ Watling, New Zealand have become a tough side to play against. Under the excellent captaincy of McCullum (who took over in bizarre circumstances from Taylor who subsequently took time out from the game), they appear to be on an upward trajectory after being bowled out for 45 against South Africa in McCullum's first match as captain.
Stat attack: The last 16 Tests in New Zealand have seen the team who win the toss field first
New Zealand v. West Indies
Poor travellers, players who seem more focussed on Twenty20 riches, and now their star spinner banned from bowling. It's hard to remember the last time West Indies did not seem to be something approaching a shambles and their performances in India and New Zealand have merely re-enforced this assumption.
Following two innings defeats in India, rain saved them from another loss in Dunedin. But any momentum gained from that unlikely escape disappeared in a three-day defeat in the following Test at Wellington.
There are problems everywhere: senior players injured, batsmen with poor records, fast bowlers who cannot take wickets and a skipper who few feel is worthy of his place in the team.
Captain Darren Sammy is at best a fourth seamer and lower-order hitter. He endured a torrid time in India and injured himself bowling in Dunedin, but made 80 in the second innings as West Indies score 507 following on. That innings came on the back of a knock of 218 by Darren Bravo, the cousin of Brian Lara who even seems to copy him in stance and shot selection.
Although the innings was aided by a fortuitous umpiring decision, it emphasised Bravo's status as one of the rising stars of the West Indies team. Alongside the continually reliant Shiv Chanderpaul who reached his 150th Test, there was at least some positive to cling on to, even if Marlon Samuels' loss of form has left the middle order vulnerable to collapse time and again.
Off-spinner Shane Shillingford is the undoubted star of the bowling attack, but his suspension for an illegal action has exposed the lack of fire-power the West Indies have.
After making tentative improvements under Ottis Gibson, this winter has seen the team fall back once again, even with a number three who looks to be the re-incarnation of one BC Lara.
Stat attack: In the last 10 years, West Indies have registered just one away win in Tests outside Bangladesh
South Africa v. India
A ruthless second Test win in Dubai against Pakistan tied the series and kept South Africa's unbeaten run on the road going. Eight wickets for Imran Tahir in his first Test since recording the worst figures in history suggested he may have been ready to finally complete the missing part in South Africa's already fearsome team.
Graeme Smith's 234 put aside fears over a terminal decline in form and it seemed inevitable that they would be too strong for an Indian side with a young and new batting line-up and a battery of fast bowlers who would struggle to get in any other Test side bar Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe (who barely play anyway).
But as things stand, things have not gone well for South Africa who have never beaten India at the Wanderers. Dale Steyn has been wayward, their middle-order collapsed and Morne Morkel went off injured and is unlikely to feature for the rest of the series.
After three days, India lead by 320 with eight wickets in hand and a rearguard like the one they pulled off in Adelaide 13 months ago - where they batted out 148 overs - looks like it might be needed again.
Worryingly, Jacques Kallis seems to be in a rut. In 10 knocks this year he has made two fifties and seven single figure scores. He looks vulnerable early on to the ball moving in and pinning him on the crease. At the age of 38 there is always the worry that a loss of form can prove terminal.
Added to this, Tahir has again bowled poorly and looks to have undone all his good work. A seemingly invincible side is slowly starting to show small signs of vulnerability. The rest of this India series and the following Tests against a resurgent Australia will show whether this is the case.
Stat attack: South Africa have gone 12 series and seven years without losing an away Test series
South Africa v. India
Playing their first away Test since January 2012 when they followed a 4-0 loss in England with a 4-0 loss in Australia (and with almost no time to acclimatise) it was hard to see India troubling South Africa. Their fast bowling attack - spearheaded by the returning 35-year-old Zaheer Khan - lacks potency and their batting line-up was completely fresh with Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid retired and Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir out of favour.
Virat Kohli (the new Tendulkar) and MS Dhoni had one oversees Test century each, but that was it. However, Kohli has taken his incredible one-day form to the Test arena, and alongside Cheteshwar Pujara (the new Dravid), they have replaced their great batsmen with players who may replicate them.
Pujara is a revelation and could have established himself as the best batsman in the world by 2015. Nobody else in world cricket seems to share Graham Gooch's love of daddy hundreds as much as Pujara. Although prolific in Indian conditions, his hundred at Johannesburg has shown he has the game to score anywhere.
New opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan has the capabilities to be an aggressive opening batsman in the mould of Sehwag and the supporting cast have all come into the team after time waiting on the sides while the legends saw out their careers.
Coach Duncan Fletcher has seen out the crises from the England and Australia tours, and 2-1 home defeat to the former, and now looks to have a rejuvenated outfit. Spinner Ravi Ashwin has provided wickets and lots of runs at number eight in the order. Khan looks to have his nip back and newcomer Mohammed Shami has looked good in his first two Tests although it is incredibly early days. Even Ishant Sharma - once seen as a mainstay in the side after troubling Ricky Ponting before fading away - has begun to show some more consistency.
India's bowling is still weaker than most other sides in world cricket, but when they tour England next summer they will be a far more difficult proposition than the ageing team who were dismantled in 2011.
Stat attack: India's top six have 59 caps between them, compared to 479 for South Africa
The rest
Sri Lanka
Not played a Test since Bangladesh in March. Money issues and problems with the board have seen Sri Lankan cricket on a downward spiral. They play three Tests again Pakistan in the UAE over the New Year but will start as underdogs. The batting still looks reliant on two or three star players and the bowling on Rangana Herath who was Test cricket's top wicket taker in 2012.
Twenty20 captain Dinesh Chandimal and Lahiru Thirimanne are two batsman seen as potential mainstays and mystery spinner Sachithra Senanayake (if given the chance) can help make up for a weak pace attack.
Pakistan
A creditable 1-1 draw against South Africa with a brand new partnership at the of the order shows that Pakistan remain very hard to beat in their adopted home. A world-class bowling attack keeps them competitive despite a batting line-up that has become overly reliant on 39-year-old skipper Misbah-ul-Haq.
Bangladesh
A decent one-day team but still struggle in the longer format. Drew with New Zealand at home recently but wins are still precious. Monimul Haque looks a promising batsman and Sohag Gazi is a useful spinning all-rounder, but improvements are slow.
Players to watch in 2014:
1. David Warner - can he continue his great form?
2. Shikhar Dhawana - 187 on debut promises much
3, Cheteshwar Pujara - a run machine with a great technique
4. Jacques Kallis - will look to turn around drop in form
5. Darren Bravo - has the talent but will look to kick on
6. Ben Stokes - a breakthrough innings, but can it be backed up?
7. Matt Prior - from player of the year to clinging on for his place
8. Trent Boult - under the radar but a top left-arm seamer
9. Ish Sodhi - leg spinners are always exciting but will test the management's patience
10. Sunil Narine - Shillingford's suspension opens the door for a regular spot
11. Steven Finn - England will be desperate to see him find his rhythm
