Surrey groundsman Lee Fortis, who made headlines last year after a heated confrontation with India head coach Gautam Gambhir at The Oval, has been placed on leave following a separate altercation with an ECB employee.Fortis was involved in a heated exchange with the employee while preparations were under way for a Hundred fixture. The ECB employee was reportedly left in tears following the incident.The episode took place at The Oval on July 28, a day before MI London faced London Spirit at the venue, with both teams training at the ground.Soon afterwards, Surrey chief executive Steve Elworthy was seen having a firm discussion with Fortis on the field. The groundsman subsequently left the playing area and has not returned to The Oval since.It remains unclear whether Fortis will return, with some sources in the English game reportedly believing that he may not resume his role.
Fortis previously clashed with Gambhir
Fortis is a well-known figure around The Oval and attracted significant attention last year after an argument with Gambhir during India’s Test against England.The disagreement centred on the condition of the square, with Gambhir telling Fortis: “You’re just a groundsman, nothing beyond that.”India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak subsequently described Fortis as “arrogant”.Fortis has served as The Oval’s head groundsman since 2012, taking up the role at the age of 30. He has since established himself as one of the leading groundsmen in English cricket, winning the ECB’s Grounds Manager of the Year award three consecutive times from 2022 to 2024.During that period, Surrey also won three successive County Championship titles.The latest incident has now left one of English cricket’s most recognisable groundsmen, who stands around 6ft 10in tall, away from The Oval while the circumstances surrounding his absence remain unclear.
