• Source:JND
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IND vs ENG 2nd Test: Despite India's blistering start on Day 1 of the second Test, what caught the eyes of many was the shortened boundary dimensions at Edgbaston, which quickly sparked intense discussion. 

As per many media reports, the boundary dimensions appeared asymmetrical and many spectators at the ground stated that they had never seen such shortened boundaries in Test matches held at Edgbaston, and this quickly added an extra layer of intrigue to the India vs England match.

The boundary fence to the scoreboard side, which is situated at wide long-off for right-handed batters playing from the pavilion end, looked particularly striking in its unusual dimensions.

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Even the disparity sparked jokes in hushed tones, with some humorously suggesting that the unused playing area could have been used for a kids’ game.

The longest boundary was 65 metres at Cow Corner, and the straight boundaries clocking around 60 metres.

Given that India had announced their plans to field two spinners in the Edgbaston Test, which begs the question of whether the shorter boundaries were a deliberate move to allow England's batters to capitalise on the big hits.

England's batting lineup has shown vulnerability in its inability to take on spin, which the Shubman Gill-led team has publicly highlighted as a potential advantage and could effectively contain England's batters.

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India's team selection for the Test saw Washington Sundar picked over Kuldeep Yadav for this Test, likely due to Sundar's capability to keep tight lines for long periods. Additionally, Sundar's batting skills down the order added depth and versatility.

According to International Cricket Council (ICC) regulations, boundary sizes can vary between 59m and 90m. The boundary at Edgbaston appears to have been shortened by approximately 5-10m.