Tensions flared ahead of the crucial fifth Test between India and England as an on-field confrontation between India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir and Surrey’s chief curator Lee Fortis brought the spotlight squarely on pitch access, authority and perceived bias. The incident unfolded during India’s training session on Tuesday at The Oval, just two days before the series decider, and has since sparked heated debate within cricketing circles.
What began as a routine pitch inspection turned unexpectedly confrontational when Lee Fortis instructed members of the Indian coaching staff to remain 2.5 metres away from the playing surface. Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak who was present during the exchange expressed surprise at the directive, especially given the context and their cautious conduct.
According to him, the staff had approached the pitch in jogging shoes, not spikes, and was merely observing the surface without causing any disturbance. He admitted that in all his years in cricket, he had never encountered such a restriction placed on a team’s support staff during pre-match preparations.
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What truly deepened the controversy, however, was the inconsistency in approach of Lee Fortis. Sitanshu Kotak revealed that a day prior to the Indian team’s visit, England head coach Brendon McCullum and ECB managing director Rob Key had also examined the same pitch while wearing casual clothing. Yet, no objections were raised then, no rules imposed, no warnings issued. This disparity in treatment did not go unnoticed and added fuel to the already simmering situation.
The matter escalated further when Lee Fortis sternly warned a member of India’s support staff against placing a 10-kilogram cooling box near the pitch area, citing concern for the square. The warning, delivered in front of players and staff, struck a nerve. Gambhir, visibly annoyed by what he saw as an unnecessary and disrespectful outburst, responded sharply, asserting that Lee Fortis had no authority to speak in such a manner and referring to him bluntly as “just a groundsman”. The heated reply prompted Lee Fortis to threaten to report the exchange.
In the aftermath, Sitanshu Kotak offered context for Gambhir’s reaction, explaining that the coach was merely defending his team. In his view, it was only natural for a head coach to intervene when his support staff was being publicly admonished. He emphasised that all the members of the staff fall under the coach’s purview and deserve equal respect.
Sitanshu Kotak didn’t shy away from addressing what he believed to be the deeper issue — the tone and attitude of Lee Fortis. While acknowledging that curators are understandably protective of their pitches, he stressed the need for professionalism and mutual respect when dealing with international teams.
According to him, no one from India’s side had violated protocol, no one wore damaging footwear and the pitch remained untouched. He argued that such over-protectiveness bordered on arrogance and dismissed the notion of the pitch being treated like a fragile artifact, especially given the reality that it would soon endure five days of diving, sliding and hard-fought Test cricket.
Interestingly, Sitanshu Kotak also indicated that the team had been cautioned in advance. Word had circulated among Indian players that Lee Fortis could be difficult to work with and the episode seemed to confirm those suspicions. Still despite the drama, India has opted not to escalate the issue by filing an official complaint with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
Meanwhile, Surrey County Cricket Club, which oversees operations at The Oval, has declined to comment on the matter. Sources familiar with the groundstaff’s perspective have suggested that Lee Fortis was simply doing his job in safeguarding the main square, which hosts over 60 days of cricket each season and is under heavy stress throughout the year.
As the final Test looms, the Gautam Gambhir-Lee Fortis altercation has added an unexpected layer of intrigue to what is already a high-stakes encounter. With the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy on the line and the series delicately poised at 2-1 in England’s favour, this pre-match controversy has not only underscored lingering issues around fairness and authority in international cricket but may also stoke the competitive fire burning in both the camps.
