ICC to discuss inaugural Test championship, four-day Tests and ODI championship in Auckland

The ICC will hold in-depth discussions on a proposed Test Championship in Auckland on Friday, Sky Sports News understands.

Cricket's governing body could soon give the green light to a new nine-team league, with expectations that it might begin as soon as 2019 and be played over a two or three-year cycle.

Among the proposals to be considered is a prestige final, with Lord's a candidate to host the inaugural championship game in 2021 - the potential for semi-finals will also be talked about.

The ICC has been keen to breathe new life into five-day cricket since 2010 and similar formats have been proposed before but never followed to conclusion.

As well as a new championship, the ICC will study the results of South Africa's four-day Test against Zimbabwe, which gets underway on Boxing Day.

The England and Wales Cricket Board said last month it had "no firm position" on the matter after reports that four-day Tests in England were being considered.

However, Sky Sports News understands four-day matches will only be monitored for now and that five-day Tests are under no threat at this stage.

The future of one-day cricket will also be discussed, with a couple of countries pushing for a similar league to the one being proposed for Test cricket, this time with 13 teams.