World cricket bosses are to reduce the intensity of Test cricket with teams play each other every six years, rather than the current five. The ICC board rejected proposals to reduce the cycle to four years, and said no country would lose Test status.
Bangladesh and Zimbabwe had feared they could be hit with a reduction in games.
A statement said: "A draft six-year program will be developed over the coming months and be presented to the board for further consideration."
The move comes after players expressed fears of burnout because of the increased demands of the five-year system, which has been in place since 2001.
But it does nothing to assuage fears about the quality of Test cricket, despite Bangladesh and Zimbabwe rarely able to compete with the other eight nations.
The board stipulated the current system should remain, with each nation should play at leas two Tests and three one-day matches against the other nine at home and away during the cycle.
ICC events, such as the World Cup and the biannual one-day Asia Cup will still have to be fitted in.
Series played more regularly than every six years, including England's matches against Australia and West Indies and India's against Pakistan, will also be accommodated.
MMIX
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