Lee Fortis has officially departed Surrey County Cricket Club, ending a 13-year tenure as head groundsman following disciplinary proceedings. The club placed the 6ft 10in veteran on indefinite leave in late July after an altercation with an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) employee occurred just one day before MI London faced London Spirit in The Hundred at the Oval. Fortis did not return to work for the remainder of the summer, and his LinkedIn profile now indicates he left the club in October and is “open to work.”
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The departure caps a turbulent 2025 for Fortis, who previously became a viral sensation after a heated exchange with India head coach Gautam Gambhir over the condition of the Oval pitch. During the confrontation, Gambhir reportedly dismissed Fortis by stating, “You’re just a groundsman, nothing beyond that,” while India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak later labeled the groundsman “arrogant.” The incident sparked widespread debate across social media regarding the hierarchy and respect within international cricket, placing Fortis under intense public scrutiny.
Beyond the international spotlight, Fortis also clashed with Surrey chief executive Steve Elworthy, a former South Africa fast bowler, in the immediate aftermath of the ECB incident. A Surrey spokesperson confirmed the separation, stating, “Lee Fortis has left the club and we wish him well for the future.” Fortis, who joined the county in 2012, was a well-known figure in English cricket, and his exit marks a significant shift in the club’s operational leadership following a series of high-profile disputes.
Source: Yahoo Sports
