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The Oval’s head groundsman Lee Fortis has reportedly been placed on depart after leaving an ECB worker in tears.
Lee Fortis (left) shot into the limelight after a heated change with Gautam Gambhir in 2026. (AFP/PTI)
Surrey head groundsman Lee Fortis has hit the headlines once more. This time, Fortis reportedly left an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) worker in tears, following which he was despatched on depart and will not return.
In line with The Telegraph, Fortis had an altercation with an ECB worker throughout The Hundred on July 28, a day earlier than MI London and London Spirit had been scheduled to sq. off at The Oval. The worker was aiding in getting ready the bottom for the match.
Following the change, Surrey chief govt Steve Elworthy reportedly spoke to Fortis, after which the groundsman left the sphere and has not been seen on the venue since.
“Issues involving the Membership and its staff are personal and confidential, and subsequently it will not be applicable to remark,” a Surrey spokesperson was quoted as saying by The Telegraph.
Fortis was appointed the pinnacle groundsman of The Oval in 2012 and has been a three-time winner of the ECB’s Grounds Supervisor of the 12 months Award between 2022 and 2024. Ought to he not return, Surrey should discover a new groundsman rapidly, given the matches they’re set to host subsequent 12 months, together with an Ashes Take a look at and the ultimate of the ICC World Take a look at Championship.
The venue will even host county matches for Surrey and function the house floor for The Hundred franchise MI London.
Fortis vs Gambhir
Fortis first made himself recognized to Indian cricket followers final 12 months in late July, when he had a heated argument with India head coach Gautam Gambhir. The incident came about two days earlier than the beginning of the fifth and ultimate Take a look at between India and England within the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, with a livid Gambhir pointing his finger at Fortis and telling him he was “only a groundsman”.
India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak later termed Fortis as “boastful”, whereas India Take a look at captain Shubman Gill described the incident as “pointless”.
“What occurred yesterday, I believed was simply completely pointless,” Gill informed had informed reporters. “It’s not the primary time that we had been taking a look on the wicket, now we have been there for nearly two months. A coach has each proper to have the ability to go shut quarters and take a look on the wicket and I didn’t suppose there was something flawed with that. I really don’t know why the curator wouldn’t enable us to go take a look on the wicket.”
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Ask News18Lee Fortis might not return as The Oval’s head groundsman after being despatched on depart following an altercation with an ECB worker.
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Feroz Khan has been protecting sports activities for over 12 years now and is presently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He launched into his journey in 2011 and has since acquired huge expertise …Learn Extra
August 28, 2026, 08:48 IST
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