Overview:
He was satisfied with the match’s outcome and the series, comparing it to an IPL-like atmosphere.
Lee Fortis, the pitch curator at the Kennington Oval, hasn’t forgotten his heated argument with India head coach Gautam Gambhir before starting the fifth and final Test. While India moved on from the incident and won the game by six runs against England, Fortis again took a dig at Gambhir.
The problem started when Fortis told the Indian players and the support staff not to get close to the pitch during a practice session before the match.
Fortis first spoke to Team India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, which made Gambhir angry. He wagged his finger and told the curator that he was a groundsman. Fortis warned Gambhir for his behavior and even threatened to complain to the ICC match referee.
According to an ESPNcricinfo report, when Fortis gave a second warning to Gambhir, the coach lost his cool and told him not to cross his limits as he was just a groundsman.
Speaking to PTI seven days after their verbal slugfest, Lee Fortis said that Gambhir made him a villain in the eyes of Indian players and fans. However, he was satisfied with the match’s outcome and the series, comparing it to an IPL-like atmosphere.
“I was made a villain. I hope you enjoyed the show, and the atmosphere was like the Indian Premier League. It was a great game,” Fortis said.
Fortis is now preparing for The Hundred, which starts on August 9.
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