New Zealand chief David White calls for Test cricket to continue its pink-ball revolution

New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White has called for Test cricket to continue its pink-ball revolution by slashing the format to four days and introducing two divisions.

The longest form of the game has struggled to find an audience in the Twenty20 era, prompting the introduction last year of day-night Test cricket played under lights with a pink ball.

New Zealand were part of that first day-night Test against Australia at Adelaide Oval and White described it as "one of the great sporting events".

But rather than rest on its laurels, White believes Test cricket needs to keep innovating to improve its relevance.

He strongly supports the idea of cutting the length of Tests from five days to four, which he said would "greatly assist with programming and player workloads".

The idea, first floated by former Australia captain Mark Taylor, has already won support from fellow Aussie greats Shane Warne and Greg Chappell, as well as England Cricket Board chairman Colin Graves.

"We need to seriously look at it," White told ESPN Cricinfo. "One of the challenges at the moment is if you play a three-Test series it has to be played over four weeks. Four weeks is a long time.

"But if you play a three-Test series of four-day cricket, it can be played over three weeks, so you save a week."

White also supports plans to introduce two divisions in Test cricket, saying it would give greater "context" to the game.

"If we had a competition with promotion and relegation, and a winner at the end, it would really increase interest, no doubt about that," White said.

White reckons if two divisions are introduced, steps needs to be taken to ensure countries in the bottom tier are not disadvantaged financially.

A four-day format is also likely to meet opposition from traditionalists, who were against the pink-ball innovation.