England Groundsman Who Clashed With Gautam Gambhir Put On Leave After Fresh Altercation

The Oval’s head groundsman Lee Fortis has reportedly been put on leave after leaving an ECB employee in tears.

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Lee Fortis put on leave after altercation.

Fortis left an ECB employee in tears.

Fortis previously clashed with Gautam Gambhir.

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Lee Fortis (left) shot into the limelight after a heated exchange with Gautam Gambhir in 2026. (AFP/PTI)

Surrey head groundsman Lee Fortis has hit the headlines again. This time, Fortis reportedly left an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) employee in tears, following which he was sent on leave and may not return.

According to The Telegraph, Fortis had an altercation with an ECB employee during The Hundred on July 28, a day before MI London and London Spirit were scheduled to square off at The Oval. The employee was assisting in preparing the ground for the match.

Following the exchange, Surrey chief executive Steve Elworthy reportedly spoke to Fortis, after which the groundsman left the field and has not been seen at the venue since.

“Matters involving the Club and its employees are private and confidential, and therefore it would not be appropriate to comment,” a Surrey spokesperson was quoted as saying by The Telegraph.

Fortis was appointed the head groundsman of The Oval in 2012 and has been a three-time winner of the ECB’s Grounds Manager of the Year Award between 2022 and 2024. Should he not return, Surrey will have to find a new groundsman quickly, given the matches they are set to host next year, including an Ashes Test and the final of the ICC World Test Championship.

The venue will also host county matches for Surrey and serve as the home ground for The Hundred franchise MI London.

Fortis vs Gambhir

Fortis first made himself known to Indian cricket followers last year in late July, when he had a heated argument with India head coach Gautam Gambhir. The incident took place two days before the start of the fifth and final Test between India and England in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, with a furious Gambhir pointing his finger at Fortis and telling him he was “just a groundsman”.

India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak later termed Fortis as “arrogant”, while India Test captain Shubman Gill described the incident as “unnecessary”.

“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.”

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Lee Fortis may not return as The Oval’s head groundsman after being sent on leave following an altercation with an ECB employee.

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Feroz Khan

Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience …Read More

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