Surrey Head Groundsman Lee Fortis has left the county club following disciplinary proceedings over his conduct, according to an exclusive report by The Telegraph‘s Will Macpherson, bringing an end to his 14-year tenure at The Oval.
Fortis had been placed on indefinite leave in late July after a confrontation with an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) employee ahead of a Hundred fixture at the ground. His departure comes as Surrey prepares to recruit a replacement before The Oval hosts two major Test matches in 2027.
Surrey confirms Lee Fortis’s departure
A Surrey spokesman told Telegraph Sport: “Lee Fortis has left the club and we wish him well for the future.”
Fortis’s LinkedIn profile indicates that his employment with Surrey ended in October, and he has since listed himself as available for work.
The circumstances surrounding his departure follow an incident in July, the day before MI London faced London Spirit in The Hundred at The Oval.
After the disagreement with the ECB employee, Fortis was involved in a further heated exchange with Surrey Chief Executive Steve Elworthy, a former South Africa fast bowler. He subsequently remained away from his duties for the rest of the summer.
The Cricket Regulator was reportedly examining the matter but declined to comment when approached by Telegraph Sport. The findings of Surrey’s disciplinary proceedings have not been disclosed, and there has been no confirmation that Fortis was formally dismissed.
The Oval faces major recruitment decision ahead of 2027
Fortis’s exit leaves Surrey needing a new Head Groundsman before a demanding international season at The Oval.
The venue is scheduled to stage the World Test Championship final in June 2027, followed by the fifth Ashes Test in late July.
Surrey is expected to begin its recruitment process in the coming weeks, with Warwickshire’s Gary Barwell among the potential candidates.
Fortis had overseen the playing surfaces at The Oval since 2012, when he was appointed to the senior role at the age of 30.
His work earned him three consecutive ECB Grounds Manager of the Year awards between 2022 and 2024, coinciding with Surrey’s three successive County Championship titles.
The departure also adds to a period of change at the club. Surrey endured a difficult 2026 County Championship campaign, having finished in the top two in each of the previous four seasons.
Former Head Coach Gareth Batty has also left after five years to join Indian Premier League franchise Chennai Super Kings. Surrey is conducting a separate search for his successor, while Rory Burns is expected to continue as Captain in 2027.
Previous Gautam Gambhir confrontation at The Oval
Fortis had previously attracted international attention following a confrontation with India Head Coach Gautam Gambhir ahead of the fifth Test against England at The Oval in 2025.
As previously reported by cricexec, the disagreement arose during India’s pre-match pitch inspection, when members of the visiting coaching staff were instructed to remain 2.5 metres away from the wicket. Tensions escalated over the handling of an ice box near the square, with India Batting Coach Sitanshu Kotak later questioning the treatment of the touring staff.
During the exchange, Gambhir told Fortis: “You’re just a groundsman, nothing beyond that.”
The India Head Coach was also heard saying: “You can go and report to whoever you want, but you can’t tell us what to do. You don’t tell us what to do, you’re just a groundsman.”
The 2025 confrontation was separate from the July 2026 incident involving an ECB employee that preceded Fortis’s disciplinary proceedings.
With Fortis no longer at the club, Surrey’s next appointment will take responsibility for preparing The Oval’s playing surfaces ahead of the World Test Championship final and the Ashes Test in 2027.
