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Surrey County Cricket Club have parted ways with their long-serving head groundsman Lee Fortis after a controversial few months at The Oval. Lee Fortis, who was placed on indefinite leave earlier this summer, has now left the club after more than a decade in the role.
The groundsman’s departure has also raised questions about the circumstances that led to the end of his association with the Surrey County Cricket Club.
Surrey parts ways with long-serving head groundsman Lee Fortis
Lee Fortis and Surrey County Cricket Club have parted ways at an important time for Kennington’s famous The Oval venue, which is gearing up to host two big Test matches next summer.
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With the ICC World Test Championship final and the fifth Ashes Test scheduled at The Oval, Surrey will now have to find a new head groundsman to take charge of the pitch and ground preparations.
Fortis joined Surrey as head groundsman in 2012 and remained in the position for over these years. However, the groundsman has recently updated his LinkedIn profile to show that he is looking for a new job after his employment with the Surrey County Cricket Club ended last month.
Surrey has also confirmed Fortis’ departure but has not shared further details about the reasons behind the decision. A Surrey spokesperson was quoted as saying by Cricinfo, "Lee Fortis has left the club, and we wish him well for the future.”
Heated argument with ECB employee behind Lee Fortis' Surrey exit?
As reported by The Telegraph, the situation became serious in July 2026 during a training session at The Oval ahead of a hundred-match between MI London and London Spirit. Fortis was involved in a heated argument with an employee of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
The incident was followed by a strong discussion with Surrey chief executive Steve Elworthy. Initially, Surrey explained Fortis' absence from his duties by saying that he had taken an unusual break during the middle of the season.
However, reports later suggested that Fortis had been placed on indefinite leave while disciplinary proceedings were being considered by the Surrey County Cricket Club. The club has neither confirmed nor denied further details about the matter.
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Lee Fortis' glorious record and controversial Gautam Gambhir episode
Meanwhile, Lee Fortis had built a strong reputation during his time at Surrey and was regularly praised by the club's director of cricket, Alec Stewart, for his excellent work. During Fortis’ tenure, Surrey won three successive County Championship titles.
His biggest achievement came when he won the Bernard Flack Memorial Trophy for producing the best multi-day pitches at the ECB Grounds Manager of the Year awards for three consecutive years between 2022 and 2024.
However, Fortis had also found himself in the headlines during India's 2025 tour of England after a heated argument with the Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir. Gambhir reportedly criticized Fortis during the disagreement, while India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak later described his behavior as somewhat arrogant.
Surrey searches for new head Groundsman and men's head coach
Now, Surrey will need to find a new person to prepare the playing surface for two of the biggest matches scheduled at The Oval next summer. The Oval will host the ICC World Test Championship final from June 9 to 13, followed by the fifth Ashes Test from July 29 to August 2.
Apart from the groundsman’s position, Surrey will also need to find a new head coach after Gareth Batty resigned to become an assistant coach with Chennai Super Kings.
