To make Test matches more competitive, ICC’s general manager for cricket Dave Richardson on Thursday suggested a two-tier structure for the longer version of the game.

“It’s an important point that Test cricket should be played against teams that are at least competitive with each other,” Richardson said.

Richardson feels the ICC could think about a second tier intercontinental tournament, consisting the lesser competitive sides to improve the standard of contest.

“Ideally, you want to have the top teams playing against each other, and then teams of lesser standing playing against each other, maybe in a second division or a lesser competition such as the Intercontinental Cup.

“I think that’s the challenge for the ICC, that it can create some sort of context for Test cricket both at the higher level and at levels below that,” Richardson said.

The comments came a day after former Australia stumper Adam Gilchrist suggested that lesser number of matches with better quality might be the way forward for the Tests.