The boundary dimensions in Edgbaston all let everyone talk as soon as the game started in the second test between England and India. From the racks of the racks, the seasoners immediately saw something special: the border pillows were not where you would expect them. They looked clearly asymmetrical and unusually approached the test match at one of the most stormy cricket places.
It turned out that it was not ground staff. Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum are understood that they had a word when moving the border rope significantly from the perimeter – a move that reflects a similar tactics from the 2005 iconic ash. This time, as the match developed, it was difficult to ignore the feeling of Deja Vu.
The most glaring example was the boundary in front of the score table-wide long long indicators of the right-hander since the end of the pavilion. It looked almost comically close. Some joked in silent tones in the media center that the remaining playing space could easily host a children’s game.
England vs India, 2. Test day 2 Updates
The numbers tell their own story. The longest boundary measured only 65 meters – in the corner of the cow – and the straight boundaries were about 60 meters. Compare it to the maximum permitted according to the ICC rules, which is 90 meters. Even the shortest legal distance, 59.43 meters, was only in places.
Now it is a thing: India has already announced that they will go with two spinners. So naturally, questions began to fly. Was the boundary brought to facilitate the English doughs to clean the ropes? The upper edge could now be comfortably sailed into the racks.
This is not the first time India has found herself at the wrong end of the border dimensions in Edgbaston. During the 2019 World Cup, they were left angry when one side of the country was unusually short in their group match against England. The hosts took full advantage of it and divided the Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal – and neutralized one of the largest Indian weapons.
Finn, Lloyd raises concern
Former English versatile David Lloyd could not completely wrap his head around the setting. “I was confused by how far it was in the border ropes. I think it has something to do with the fact that it is not too close to advertising advice,” he wrote in The Daily Mail.
Steven Finn, former England Fast Bowler, had a different view. He tied the transition to England the fearless “basball”. “So we’re here in Edgbaston. I stood right at the border rope, which is a considerable way to expect where you can expect for a normal test match,” he said to the BBC. “England and their tendency to want to win throwing, first bowl and chase in the last shifts is why these boundaries came so far.”
What do ICC rules say?
The official ICC instructions are clear: “The aim is to maximize the size of the playing area in every place. With regard to the size of the boundaries, no boundaries of longer than 90 yards (82.29 meters) must be less than 65 yards (59.43 meters) that should be used.”
Technically, the setting of Edgbaston does not violate any rules – but it throws it directly against the minimum.
And if you look at the recent history of persecution of England, it all begins to add up. In 2022, they withdrew the famous pursuit of 378 against India 378 against India – their highest in the test history. Recently, they were chasing 371 in Leeds and broke 352 runs on the last day – the second most scored most in the fifth day of the test. Australia Don Bradman only managed more, with 404 in 1948.
It is a trend that makes the release of Finno theory more difficult. Whether short boundaries were planned specifically for this test or not, they certainly play in English hands. And even if it can be in the rules, it remains a question: Does it sit correctly with the spirit of the game?
– ends
Published:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
3 July 2025
