Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has reacted to the spat between Gautam Gambhir and Oval pitch curator Lee Fortis, saying that it should not make headlines, as such incidents happen quite often on the cricket field.
Gambhir was inspecting the central square at The Oval with batting coach Sitanshu Kotak when Fortis sent a messenger to ask them to stay 2.5 metres away from the pitch. The Indian head coach was then seen in a heated exchange with the curator and was heard saying: “You don’t tell us what we need to do.”
Ganguly said: “I really don’t know why Gambhir was upset. I’m sure all coaches and captains have discussions with the groundsmen – happily, sometimes unhappily. It happened in my time, and it will happen in the future as well. So let’s not make too much of it. I hope India play well, win the Test, and level the series.”
Later, speaking to the media about the incident, Kotak said: “Honestly, one of the ground staff came and said that we were required to stand 2.5 metres from the wicket and ‘go outside the rope and see the wicket’. I have never seen something like that. Before this game, we had an idea that the curator isn’t the easiest person to work with. Being possessive is good, but not to this extent. We had joggers on, not spikes, so there was no danger.”
With the series on the line, India will be looking to win the ongoing fifth and final Test in order to level the series 2-2.
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