English Groundsman Who Fought With Gautam Gambhir Sent On Leave

Lee Fortis fought with Gambhir last year [Source: X]

Surrey Head groundsman Lee Fortis, who was involved in a controversy last year over his major altercation with Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir, has hit the headlines again, and for the wrong reasons. He fought with an ECB employee, after which Fortis was put on leave.

According to a report from The Telegraph, Fortis had a heated exchange with an ECB employee during The Hundred tournament on July 28, a day before the all-important clash between MI London and London Spirit.

The employee was helping Fortis prepare the pitch, but it seems the duo had an altercation, which left Surrey Cricket authorities furious. Surrey chief executive spoke to Fortis, but the groundsman left the field and, since then, has not been seen at work.

Fortis gained limelight when he fought with Gambhir in 2025

This is not the first time Fortis has hogged the limelight. Last year, when India toured England for a five-match Test series, the Surrey head groundsman fought with the Indian head coach, Gautam Gambhir. 

The two were engaged in a heated exchange ahead of the fifth Test at the Oval, with a furious Gambhir pointing his finger at Fortis and telling him he was “just a groundsman".

According to those present, the disagreement seemed to stem from the condition or use of the practice pitches.

Witnesses reported that Fortis approached Gambhir and threatened to file a complaint against the Indian team - likely related to the team’s use of a particular pitch area.

A visibly furious Gambhir shouted at Fortis: “You go and report whatever you want to report.”

The Indian batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, termed Fortis as “arrogant”, while Shubman Gill, the Test captain, hailed the incident as “unnecessary.”

Gill slammed Fortis for his unnecessary action

Apart from Sitanshu Kotak, who was angry with the whole incident, captain Gill, too, was furious, as he stated that a coach has every right to have a closer look at the playing surface to decide his team combination.

Also Read: Gautam Gambhir Fumes At India Star, Ravindra Jadeja Joins

“What happened yesterday, I thought was just absolutely unnecessary," Gill told had told reporters. “It’s not the first time that we were having a look at the wicket, we have been there for almost two months. 

A coach has every right to be able to go close quarters and have a look at the wicket and I didn’t think there was anything wrong with that. I actually don’t know why the curator would not allow us to go have a look at the wicket."

Surrey in a race against time to appoint a new groundsman if Fortis doesn't turn up

Fortis was made Surrey’s head groundsman in 2012, and since then, he has done his part in making the Oval one of the best surfaces in England.

Interestingly, he has been a three-time winner of the ECB’s Grounds Manager of the Year Award between 2022 and 2024. However, Surrey Cricket faces a race against time as they need to hire a new groundsman if Fortis doesn’t return.

The ground will host high-profile matches next year - The Ashes and the WTC final in 2027- and the Oval needs a new head groundsman to replace a potentially departing Fortis.

Also Read: The Precision Behind Sonal Dinusha’s Methods