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Oval groundsman Lee Fortis placed on leave after clash
NDTV··28 Aug
Surrey groundsman Lee Fortis has been placed on leave after an altercation with an ECB employee during Hundred preparations at The Oval. The July 28 episode left the employee in tears, the report said. Fortis left after talking with Surrey chief executive Steve Elworthy and has not returned. He previously clashed with India coach Gautam Gambhir at The Oval.
Prism
What It Means For You
- Hundred teams training at The Oval now prepare without Fortis on the ground while his leave continues.
- Surrey's pitch operations sit with whoever covers his duties until any return is decided.
- English cricket sources quoted in the report believe he may not resume the role.
What's Happening
- The latest clash came a day before MI London faced London Spirit, with both sides training at the venue.
- Last year Gambhir told Fortis he was just a groundsman during a dispute over the square; Sitanshu Kotak called Fortis arrogant.
- It remains unclear whether Fortis will return to The Oval.
Fortis's record at The Oval
- Fortis has been The Oval's head groundsman since 2012, taking the role at age 30.
- He won the ECB Grounds Manager of the Year award three consecutive times from 2022 to 2024.
- Surrey also won three successive County Championship titles in that period.
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