IF ever there was proof that Test cricket is alive and kicking in this country, it came in the form of the 15,000 spectators that packed into Lord’s on Tuesday to watch Pakistan battling with Australia.

It is fantastic that neutral Tests are being held in this country, especially when it involves a team like Pakistan who could quickly disappear from the world game without a helping hand from the cricketing family.

While terrorists should never win, it is nigh on impossible to allow international cricket to be played in Pakistan at the moment.

So, until the country stabalises itself, the national team should play abroad to maintain their place at the top table.

There is far too much talent in Pakistani cricket for them not to play something approaching an regular international programme.

It is a sad fact of life that cricket-mad supporters in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad will not get a chance to see their heroes in the flesh but it gives an opportunity to fans based in this country to catch up with their idols.