Ex-England pacer claims Edgbaston dimensions altered to aid Bazball: 'I stood right by the boundary rope...'

The boundary length at Edgbaston, Birmingham, where the second Test between India and England in underway, has grabbed significant attention after it was pointed that the ground dimensions have been altered. Ex-England cricketers Steven Finn and David Lloyd highlighted the change in dimensions, with the former even claiming that the length was reduced to aid England's Bazball style of play.

Finn, who made 36 Test appearances between 2010 and 2016, said shorter boundaries were implemented to support Ben Stokes and Co.'s inclination towards chasing in the fourth innings. “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. “England and their propensity to want to win the toss, bowl first and chase in the last innings maybe the reason why those boundaries have come so far in."

Meanwhile, David Lloyd, a former all-rounder, expressed that it could have been done to maintain distance from the advertising boards. “I was confused by how far in the boundary ropes were. I think it has something to do with having them not too close to the advertising boards," he wrote in his column for the Daily Mail.

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As per the official ICC playing conditions: “The aim shall be to maximize the size of the playing area at each venue. With respect to the size of the boundaries, no boundary shall be longer than 90 yards (82.29 meters), and no boundary should be shorter than 65 yards (59.43 metres) from the centre of the pitch to be used."