We witnessed two Test matches of contrasting fashions last week, with Sri Lanka and India playing out a high-scoring draw in Colombo while Pakistan were trounced by England in under four days. I think it's safe to say that the latter was the more enjoyable of the two.

The debate regarding the dominance of ball over bat or vice versa has raged long and hard, but the pasts week's Tests have surely illustrated that given the choice the scales should always tip in favour of the ball.

Across the two Test matches a number of milestones were racked up: five tons, two double centuries and three five-wicket hauls were amassed. Crucially it was only batting milestones that were achieved in Colombo, while over in Trent Bridge there was a combination of the two.

Both Sri Lanka and India endured below-par attacks but regardless, they didn't really stand a chance. As the runs were racked up it was clear halfway through the match that the Test would go all five days but that there certainly wouldn't be a result.

One can't argue that the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara exhibited some scintillating strokeplay at the SSC but to what end?

The players appeared to simply be going through the motions for much of the five days, and that's not what top-level cricket is about, it's certainly not what the fans want to see.

Conversely in Nottingham we saw a more even tussle between bat and ball. Yes, it was a game where the bowlers thrived, with Mohammad Asif picking up a five-for and James Anderson two, but as Eoin Morgan, Paul Collingwood and Matt Prior illustrated with a bit of patience and application run-scoring was certainly possible. Conditions favoured the bowlers but didn't leave the batsman with no chance, and that certainly is Test cricket at its best.

The biggest reason for this is that a game in which the ball has a slight edge a result is much more likely than in the reverse scenario, and in an age in which Test cricket is struggling to attract spectators results are the most important feature.

One can't afford to see bore-fests such as the one in Sri Lanka if the game is to thrive. Even the most ardent fan will begin to tire seeing mindless run-scoring. It is the sub-continent where cricket is at its most popular.

But locals and touring countries beware, expose your viewers to such pointless cricket and they may never return to their television or your stadium. And that's the last thing cricket needs.