Surrey groundsman Lee Fortis, who made headlines final 12 months after a heated confrontation with India head coach Gautam Gambhir at The Oval, has been positioned on go away following a separate altercation with an ECB worker.Fortis was concerned in a heated alternate with the worker whereas preparations have been below method for a Hundred fixture. The ECB worker was reportedly left in tears following the incident.The episode passed off at The Oval on July 28, a day earlier than MI London confronted London Spirit on the venue, with each groups coaching on the floor.Quickly afterwards, Surrey chief government Steve Elworthy was seen having a agency dialogue with Fortis on the sector. The groundsman subsequently left the taking part in space and has not returned to The Oval since.It stays unclear whether or not Fortis will return, with some sources within the English sport reportedly believing that he might not resume his function.
Fortis beforehand clashed with Gambhir
Fortis is a well known determine round The Oval and attracted vital consideration final 12 months after an argument with Gambhir throughout India’s Check towards England.The disagreement centred on the situation of the sq., with Gambhir telling Fortis: “You’re only a groundsman, nothing past that.”India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak subsequently described Fortis as “boastful”.Fortis has served as The Oval’s head groundsman since 2012, taking on the function on the age of 30. He has since established himself as one of many main groundsmen in English cricket, successful the ECB’s Grounds Supervisor of the 12 months award three consecutive instances from 2022 to 2024.Throughout that interval, Surrey additionally received three successive County Championship titles.The newest incident has now left one among English cricket’s most recognisable groundsmen, who stands round 6ft 10in tall, away from The Oval whereas the circumstances surrounding his absence stay unclear.
