CAPE TOWN, (Reuters) – South Africa captain Graeme  Smith wants the International Cricket Council (ICC) to introduce  a new “test championship” at next week’s annual general meeting  in Singapore.

Smith, whose team will take a 1-0 lead into tomorrow’s third  and final test against West Indies in Barbados, is concerned  about the future of the five-day game with most series  increasingly struggling to attract a significant audience.

“All our senior players support a formal test championship,”  he told Reuters by email from Bridgetown.

“Such a championship would give context and value to every  test match and would stimulate interest in the five-day game  worldwide.”

The opening batsman offered a comparison with English  Premier League soccer.

“It is important all test matches should have equal value  and that is what a championship would do,” said Smith.

“If you look at the Premiership in England, for example,  Manchester United pick up three points for a win whether it is  against (champions) Chelsea or one of the relegation strugglers.

“I believe a test championship is a matter of urgency to  stimulate the five-day game.”

The ICC’s member nations have previously rejected several  suggested test championship formats but the latest, a  watered-down compromise, could be adopted.

If it is introduced, the top-four ranked test teams would  play semi-finals and a final every four years over 18 days to  decide the winners.