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The dust has settled at The Oval after a captivating five-day Test match between England and India, a contest that delivered drama right down to the wire. Beyond the boundaries, two figures found themselves unexpectedly in the spotlight: Lee Fortis, the chief curator of The Oval, and Gautam Gambhir, Team India’s head coach.
Usually content to let his pitches speak for themselves, Fortis has now broken his silence regarding a recent altercation with Gambhir.
The reason of altercation between Lee Fortis and Gautam Gambhir
Just a week prior to the Test, Fortis was labelled a “villain” by some of the Indian cricket fans following a heated exchange with Gambhir. The incident, according to Fortis, stemmed from a seemingly innocuous request. Fortis and his ground staff had asked the Indian players and support staff to maintain a 2.5-meter distance from the pitch area during practice sessions. This directive, however, reportedly did not sit well with Gambhir. During a tense face-off, the Indian head coach allegedly retorted sharply, even mockingly referring to Fortis as “just a groundsman.”
Despite the public scrutiny and the perceived slight, Fortis remained composed. Speaking to PTI, as quoted by Times Of India, he calmly downplayed the incident, stating, “Well, I was never the villain; I was made to look like one. Gambhir was a bit touchy ahead of a big game.”
The Oval pitch delivers a thriller
Fortis’s calm demeanour was further justified by the performance of the pitch itself. Throughout the majority of the Test, the surface at The Oval proved to be a batting paradise, offering consistent bounce and pace. This was evident on Day 4, when England batters Joe Root and Harry Brook smashed magnificent centuries on the favourable conditions, scoring freely as England mounted a formidable chase of 374.
However, the true character of the pitch, and Fortis’s expertise, came to the fore on the dramatic final day. As the game wore on, and with an old ball in hand, Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj produced a spell of remarkable skill, making the ball hoop and zip off the surface, turning the match on its head and snatching a dramatic victory for India. This ability of the pitch to offer something for both batters and bowlers, and to facilitate a thrilling conclusion, was a testament to its quality. It provided runs, bounce, seam movement and swing, ensuring a complete cricketing spectacle.
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