London, July 29 (UNI) India’s build-up to the final Test at The Oval took an unexpected turn when head coach Gautam Gambhir was seen involved in a heated exchange with Lee Fortis, the head groundsman at Surrey. The incident, which unfolded during today’s optional training session, cast an uneasy shadow over what was expected to be a routine practice ahead of the high-stakes series decider.
Eyewitnesses described Gambhir wagging his finger at Fortis in what appeared to be an animated disagreement.
Reportedly, the dispute stemmed from his objections to India using parts of the main square for warm-ups and drills. Groundsmen are traditionally protective of the square, and with The Oval set to host more domestic matches through early September, Fortis was reportedly anxious to limit traffic around the pitches.
India’s assistant coach Sitanshu Kotak confirmed tensions on the ground, admitting that the team felt “awkward” after being instructed to maintain a 2.5-metre distance from the pitch, despite not wearing spikes.
“When some of us coaches went to see the wicket, a member of the groundstaff said stay away at least 2.5 metres, which was a little surprising,” Kotak said. “Because it is the pitch, the match is starting day after, it will be a five-day Test, and we’re standing in our joggers, so we felt a little awkward.”
Kotak did not directly comment on the Gambhir-Fortis confrontation but defended the team’s conduct. “(We were) just looking at the wicket, with rubber spikes… There’s nothing wrong with that. Curators also need to understand the people they are talking to, they are highly skilled and intelligent,” he said. “For example, if you go on the ground now where we practised, you won’t even see that any bowler in the outfield would have marked it with his spikes. That all comes from the head coach. We try and see this ground also doesn’t get damaged.”
The assistant coach suggested that the tone of communication may have triggered the episode. “You can be protective, but at the end of the day it is a cricket pitch, not an antique. We were standing there with rubber spikes. You tell me — a day after, a batsman will be sliding to survive a run-out, a bowler will be sliding to stop the ball. Maybe he (Fortis) is thinking we are trying to grow the grass. I mean, I don’t know. He said that we are trying to get this grass on the next wicket to the centre wicket. I don’t know how much grass will grow in one day.”
India arrived in London riding high after their comeback win in Manchester, but Tuesday’s flare-up may serve as an unwelcome distraction as they prepare to level the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. England currently lead the five-match series 2-1, with the final Test scheduled to begin on July 31 at The Oval.
