Former England pacer Steven Finn made a serious allegation after India posted 310 for 5 at stumps on Day 1 of the second Test at Edgbaston, with captain Shubman Gill hitting an unbeaten 114. Finn claimed that the boundaries at Edgbaston has been shortened to support England’s Bazball strategy. “So we're here at Edgbaston. I stood right by the boundary rope, which is a considerable way in from where you may anticipate for a normal Test match,” Finn said on BBC’s broadcast.

England captain Ben Stokes chose to bowl first at Edgbaston as he did in the first Test at Headingley, with a plan to chase in the fourth innings. England had successfully chased down 371 on a fifth-day wicket in the first Test. Finn remarked that Stokes’ decision to field first aligned with the shorter boundaries, suggesting they would aim to chase again.

Steven Finn remarked that England captain Ben Stokes’ decision to field first aligned with the shorter boundaries, suggesting they would aim to chase again. “England and their propensity to want to win the toss, bowl first and chase in the last innings maybe is the reason why those boundaries have come so far in," Finn suggested.

On Day 1, India scored freely, with boundaries coming frequently - opener Yashasvi Jaiswal hit 13 boundaries during his 87-run knock, Karun Nair struck 5 during his brief 31 off 50-ball stay, Shubman Gill hit 12, while Ravindra Jadeja has scored five so far.

First Jaiswal and later Gill made the most of the shorter boundaries. Jaiswal even batted at a strike rate of 81.31. Gill, meanwhile, remained unbeaten on 114 off 226 balls, anchoring the Indian innings after coming in at No. 4. He also shared an unbroken 99-run partnership with Jadeja, who is unbeaten on 41, to keep England at bay at stumps.

This was Gill’s second successive Test ton in the ongoing series after a well-measured 147 at Headingley. The latest century came under pressure, with his team trailing 0-1 in the five-match Test series.

Meanwhile, Jaiswal, who scored a 59-ball fifty before being dismissed on 87 by Ben Stokes while playing away from his body, hailed Gill’s leadership after the day's play: “It’s incredible to see him bat... he’s very clear about what he wants the team to do.”