Wednesday 7 September 2016 15:47, UK
As part of new proposals discussed by the International Cricket Council (ICC), a Test champion could be crowned every two years.
An ICC working group held a two-day meeting on Wednesday in Dubai to plan an overhaul of international cricket because of fears that players could be lost to domestic Twenty20 leagues.
The meeting agreed key principles for a Test competition that would give much-needed context to the five-day game.
"Significant progress on the future shape of all international cricket has been made," said ICC chief executive David Richardson.
"Encouragingly, there is an appetite from the 10 full members for more context around all three formats of the game and we have consensus on a range of areas.
"This includes the details of ODI and T20 structures and principles around Test cricket schedules, which include the concept of a Test champion play-off every two years and the opportunity for more nations to be involved.
"There are some complexities, not least because of scheduling and existing structures, but we envisage the changes being implemented for 2019."
It is understood a two-tier Test system cannot be ruled out, and the ICC does not expect a decision to be reached on the new Test competition's structure before the end of 2016.
The international cricket players' union revealed that 50% of players who responded to a survey said they would consider rejecting a national contract in favour of free agency in domestic cricket leagues.
As a result, the board is under pressure to rejuvenate the international calendar, to fight off competition for the best players.
