Ireland are likely to play their first Test match against England at Lord’s in 2019 as part of ICC plans to revolutionise the longest form of the game.

Cricket’s governing body is poised to award Afghanistan and Ireland Test status in three years’ time, even though plans to introduce a two-division format for Tests have been shelved.

It is understood that there is agreement among the ten Test-playing nations that the format should be expanded. Unlike with the two-division proposal, existing Test teams do not fear that the elevation of two new countries would threaten their own positions. An announcement could come at the ICC meeting next month.

The identities of the new teams are likely to be determined by the standings in the present