Former England pacer Steven Finn brought in a shocking claim that Edgbaston boundaries have been made shorter to help the English batters go on with their aggressive approach. The boundary rope has been pulled inwards, leaving a wide space between the dugout and the main outfield. Even though the Edgbaston authorities have not mentioned any reason, it felt like it was solely Finn's point of view regarding helping the English batters. According to Finn, the shorter boundary will help the batters to chase in the fourth innings. During a BBC’s Test Match Special presentation, Finn said, “So we are here at Edgbaston. I’m stood by the boundary rope, which is a considerable way in from where you may anticipate for a normal Test match here. England and their propensity to want to win the toss, bowl first, and chase in the last innings is maybe why the boundary ropes have come so far in." Notably, the pitch can be altered to aid the home team, but altering the boundary length is not common. Read also: Watch: Ishan Kishan channelizes inner Harbhajan Singh at County Championship Division 1 Flat pitch yet India faltered on Day 1 England skipper Ben Stokes opted to bowl first after winning the toss in overcast conditions at Edgbaston, Birmingham. However, the pitch turned out to be batter-friendly, and India capitalized, ending Day 1 at a solid 310/5. Captain Shubman Gill led from the front with an unbeaten 114 off 216 balls—his second century of the tour—anchoring the innings after a couple of early setbacks. Yashasvi Jaiswal provided a brisk start with 87, while Ravindra Jadeja remained not out on 41 at stumps. England's bowlers struggled for impact, with Chris Woakes (2/59) being the pick of the lot. India’s dismissals mostly stemmed from soft shots rather than unplayable deliveries, reflecting the flat nature of the pitch. With five wickets in hand and batting depth remaining, India may aim to push past 450 on Day 2.