Ireland coach Phil Simmons believes a two-tier split of Test-playing nations could be the future.

Cricket Ireland on Tuesday announced a series of wide-ranging measures aimed at realising their goal of becoming the 11th Test country - and the first new one since Bangladesh 12 years ago - by 2020.

And former West Indies star Simmons, who joined Ireland as coach in 2007, believes the Test format must expand. He told Press Association Sport: "We don't know what is going to happen in the next few years where Test cricket is concerned, but all of us believe this goal is a possibility."

One way that Ireland's aim could be achieved would be to split the highest ranked Test sides from the lower ones, increasingly competitiveness along the way.

"It's not for us to second guess things but I think something like a two-tier system would be great. It is our job to prepare and if it comes to be ready for it," Simmons added.

"You could have the top six Test teams and then the bottom four as well as one or two of us (associates) all playing "I think we owe it to cricket to keep expanding because if we keep it as such a small group then it will die."

One of the ICC's major challenges is to provide new context to Test cricket in a bid to tackle diminishing attendances.

On the two-tier system, Simmons added: "If you add promotion and relegation over a given cycle, then teams have to play hard all the time. You can't just lose a series and say it is alright. Look at the Premier League, the biggest sports league in the world, where people are always playing for something."

Simmons later announced his squad for the forthcoming tour of Kenya, which will include the third round of the ICC Intercontinental Cup, two World Cup qualifying one-day internationals and three Twenty20 internationals.

A party of 17 has been named and, once all have been cleared to play by the ICC, it will be whittled down to 14. Max Sorenson and James Shannon are new additions to the squad, while plans are in place for Middlesex bowler Tim Murtagh to be included should his Irish passport be processed in time.