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Barclay, who stepped down last December after four years in the role, said it was a necessary step to ensure Test cricket appealed to modern fans.

"The format of the WTC has got its critics and justifiably so, but we had to do something," Barclay told BBC Sport.

Barclay remains more cautious and would be "loathe to see a direct subsidy" to enable Test cricket to be played.

"It's a case of prioritising, using resources sensibly, and accordingly," Barclay said.

"The ICC made both Ireland and Afghanistan full members in 2017 but it did not mean it was the end of the line," Barclay said.