Lee Fortis, who made headings after a heated exchange with India head coach Gautam Gambhir at The Oval in 2025, has actually left Surrey following disciplinary procedures over a different run-in with an ECB worker.
Lee Fortis with Gautam Gambhir throughout the Oval Test of 2025(Getty Images)
New Delhi,Nov 11, 2026 13:49 IST
Lee Fortis, Surrey’s head groundsman who was associated with a heated conflict with India head coach Gautam Gambhir throughout the group’s 2025 Test trip of England, has actually left the county club following disciplinary procedures over his conduct.
Fortis, who had actually been Surrey’s head groundsman for more than a years, was put on indefinite leave in July after a run-in with an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) worker at The Oval. The event happened a day before MI London dealt with London Spirit in The Hundred at the location. He likewise had a heated exchange with Surrey president Steve Elworthy following the occurrence and did not go back to work for the rest of the summer season.
Fortis ‘LinkedIn profile now shows that he left Surrey in October and is open to work. A Surrey representative verified his departure to Telegraph Sport, stating: “Lee Fortis has left the club and we wish him well for the future.”
The findings of the disciplinary procedures have actually not been revealed. The Cricket Regulator was likewise reported to have actually opened an examination into the July occurrence however did not comment when approached by Telegraph Sport. There has actually been no main verification that Fortis was dismissed by Surrey.
Fortis had actually formerly drawn in significant attention in July 2025 when he encountered Gambhir ahead of the 5th and last Test in between India and England at The Oval. The argument developed throughout an Indian training session, with the groundsman dissatisfied about the group’s usage of the primary square and the handling of devices near the pitch.
The exchange was captured on electronic camera, with Gambhir noticeably challenging Fortis. “You can go and report to whoever you want, but you can’t tell us what to do. You don’t tell us what to do, you’re just a groundsman,” the India head coach was heard stating.
India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak consequently criticised the way in which the groundstaff had actually interacted with the checking out group, explaining Fortis as conceited. He stated the training personnel had actually been asked to preserve a range of 2.5 metres from the wicket while checking the surface area.
Fortis, nevertheless, soft-pedaled the fight when approached by Indian media, stating there was absolutely nothing to discuss and absolutely nothing to conceal.
The 40-year-old signed up with Surrey in 2012 and turned into one of the most recognisable figures in English county cricket. His work at The Oval made him the ECB Grounds Manager of the Year award for 3 succeeding years, from 2022 to 2024. Surrey likewise won the County Championship in each of those seasons.
His departure comes at a considerable time for the club, with The Oval arranged to host the World Test Championship last in June 2027 and the 5th Ashes Test later on that summertime. Surrey will now need to discover a replacement for a groundsman who had actually supervised its playing surface areas for more than a years.
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