India’s captain Shubman Gill, left, and batting partner Ravindra Jadeja leave the field at the end of play on day one. (AP Photo) As India closed Day 1 of the second Test at 310 for 5, the talking point wasn’t just Shubman Gill’s masterclass with the bat, but also the noticeably shortened boundaries at Edgbaston – a move former England pacer Steven Finn linked directly to the Bazball mindset.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“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 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.”
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Whether by design or not, it was India’s new skipper Gill who made the most of the shorter dimensions, staying unbeaten on 114 off 226 balls and anchoring a revival after India had slipped from 161/2 to 211/5. His unbroken 99-run stand with Ravindra Jadeja (41*) kept England at bay late in the day.
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Gill’s second consecutive century as captain, after his 147 in Leeds, comes amidst the high-pressure backdrop of India trailing 0-1 in the five-Test series. His hundred came via a delicate sweep for four off Joe Root – a shot that capped a day marked by grit and patience.Finn’s observation added intriguing subtext to England’s tactical setup, especially after Ben Stokes chose to field again – just as he had at Headingley. Meanwhile, Yashasvi Jaiswal dazzled with a 59-ball fifty and made 87 before falling to a loose stroke off Stokes. Post-play, he lauded Gill’s leadership: “It’s incredible to see him bat… he’s very clear about what he wants the team to do.”
‘We were close to getting him’: Woakes admits Gill’s control as India reach 310/5 at Edgbaston
Chris Woakes, who returned 2 for 59, rued missed chances: “A couple of decisions go our way early doors and then all of a sudden they’re 30-3… it could’ve been a completely different day.”England will hope for early breakthroughs on Day 2, but with Gill standing tall and the pitch still flat, India hold the edge – short boundaries or not.
