Miandad, who played 124 matches for his country, told Reuters on Friday: "The matches have been so close and tensely fought that people not only in England but in other cricket playing nations are totally involved in its outcome."

England and Australia are 1-1 in the five-match series with the last two matches producing gripping finishes.

Miandad said he had been concerned about the future of Test cricket due to the ill-planned international tours programme and and the great increase in the number of one-day matches.

He added: "The way this series has brought in spectators, viewers and listeners, it gives me hope Test cricket is still not dead."