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As his passion for writing continued to bloom — he wrote the screenplay that became “Teaching Mrs. Tingle” in that extension course — his enthusiasm for assisting Barclay dwindled.

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.