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Groundsman who clashed with Gautam Gambhir placed on leave after new row
Lee Fortis, the Oval pitch curator who was involved in a heated spat with India head coach Gautam Gambhir in July 2025, has been placed on leave after another argument, this time…
Lee Fortis, the Oval pitch curator who was involved in a heated spat with India head coach Gautam Gambhir in July 2025, has been placed on leave after another argument, this time with an England and Wales Cricket Board employee. The incident occurred on July 28, 2026, while the ground was being prepared for a Hundred match between MI London and London Spirit. The ECB employee reportedly left the scene in tears.
According to a British media report, Fortis then had a long conversation with Surrey chief executive Steve Elworthy on the pitch before leaving the field. He has not been seen at the ground since, and some sources suggest he may not return. Surrey declined to comment, calling the matter private and confidential.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The Oval's pitch curator is a Surrey employee, so the club's refusal to comment is standard procedure for a personnel matter. The 2025 Gambhir-Fortis clash became a flashpoint because Gambhir was heard telling a groundsman he had no right to advise the Indian coaching staff. That incident drew attention to the often-unwritten hierarchy between players and ground staff. Fortis's future now depends on Surrey's internal inquiry, which typically takes weeks. The Hundred season continues through August, so the county will need a decision before then to keep match preparations on track.
Source: sports.ndtv.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
