The International Cricket Council is reportedly considering a proposal to split Test cricket into two divisions in a system of promotion and relegation, reported The Guardian. Two new countries would be granted Test status, with the aim of making the longest format of the game more relevant. The report said ICC chief executive David Richardson is exploring a number of options that would provide greater context to all three formats of the game from 2019.

According to the report, the proposal includes placing seven nations into division one and five in division two, with promotion and relegation decided every two years. The teams in division one would play a series against each other, either home or away, over a two-year cycle. The leading team will win the Test championship and the bottom side will facing relegation. The proposal will be submitted to the ICC board at its annual conference in July, the report said.

This divisional structure would occupy no more than five months a year, the report added, leaving time for countries to schedule other tours. This means that series such as the Ashes could continue to be played even if England and Australia were in different divisions.