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NDTV
8 hours ago
- Sport
- NDTV
India To Lodge Complaint After Oval Curator Shouts At Staff That Angered Gautam Gambhir? Team Breaks Silence
Gautam Gambhir 's heated spat with Lee Fortis, chief curator at The Oval, during a training session on Tuesday has got the ball rolling ahead of the fifth Test. The match will decide the series result and ahead of such an important match, the spat has added a dash of spice to the contest. India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak spilt the beans about head coach Gautam Gambhir's fiery confrontation and declared that they did nothing wrong, which would have damaged the strip and confirmed they won't lodge any comment. The on-field verbal spats between the players extended to the off-field drama. Gambhir, visibly upset, was involved in a heated exchange with Fortis. The Indian head coach, on several occasions, pointed his finger at Fortis and even threw a couple of expletives. Kotak was seen stepping in, taking Lee away and having a brief conversation with him. While Kotak appeared to diffuse the situation while explaining their stance, Gambhir, who stood near the nets, pointed his finger towards Lee and furiously said, "You don't tell us what to do." Kotak claimed that the build-up to the incident began when they were inspecting the crease and were told to stand 2.5 meters away from the crease. Despite the fiasco, he confirmed that India won't push for a complaint against Lee. "So, it was very normal. Then he came there, and he was saying, I think it got built up from the wicket when we were watching. And to be very, very honest, if you want me to be very honest, before coming to Oval, most of the team knows that the curator is not the easiest person to get on with. And I am sure you also would be aware of it. So, that gives a lot of answers. No, I do not think there is any point in complaining," he said. According to ESPNcricinfo, Lee was unhappy with India using he majority of the main square for their training session. The Indian batting coach feels that pitch curators are "overprotective" and "possessive" about the square and the ground, but there is no need to be "arrogant" about something that is not an "antique piece". "When we were looking at the pitch. They had sent a man to send a message for us to stay 2.5 m away from the pitch. This was a little surprising. We were wearing joggers. It was quite awkward. We know curators are a little overprotective and possessive about the square and the ground. What he said about the head coach is his opinion, and I don't want to comment," Kotak told reporters in the post-match press conference. "There is nothing wrong with looking at a wicket wearing rubber spikes. Curators need to understand that the people they're talking to are highly skilled and intelligent. When you are working with highly skilled and intelligent people, if you sound a bit arrogant or if you come across like you know you can be protective, but at the end of the day, it's a cricket pitch, it's not some antique piece that you cannot touch because it is 200 years old and it will be broken," he added. He went on to claim that Lee was shouting when the support staff was bringing the cooling box, which weighed around 10 kilos. The way Lee addressed the staff members didn't sit well with Gambhir, prompting him to confront the chief curator while defending his teammates, something he has done before with the Naveen-ul-Haq incident in the IPL being one of them. "No, when he was bringing the cooling box there, he was sitting on the roller, he shouted and told the support staff not to take it there. Now the weight of that cooling box will be 10 kilos, according to me. It will not be more than that. And what we are doing there," he said. "So, it is good to be a little possessive, and it is also good to be protective, but not that much. So, then Gautam just said that do not talk to the support staff like this, because the support staff, we all come under the head coach. Any head coach will say that you cannot shout from there and say this," he added. "I felt when we were looking at the wicket, when the coaches stood near it, he (Fortis) sent someone who told us to stay 2.5 meters away from the pitch. But it was a very strange way of saying you go and stand two and a half metres away from here. So, I think that is what started because Gautam is someone who does not even speak unnecessary things. He does not talk to anyone," he added. While Kotak gave a detailed explanation of the situation, Lee refrained from commenting on the heated exchange. While speaking to the reporters, he classified Gambhir as a "touchy guy" and remained tight-lipped about the rest of the matter. "It is quite a big game coming up. It is not my job to be happy with him (Gautam Gambhir) or not. I have never met him before today. You saw what he was like this morning. It's okay, I am fine. We have nothing to hide," he said while speaking to reporters. As the gruelling Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy heads towards the final Test at The Oval, England are in a 2-1 lead after the fourth contest in Manchester ended in a draw. India will look to return home on a high, as the highly anticipated fixture begins on Thursday.
NDTV
11 hours ago
- Sport
- NDTV
Not Pitch. Real Reason Behind Gautam Gambhir's Spat With Oval Curator Revealed: "He Shouted..."
India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak spilt the beans about head coach Gautam Gambhir's fiery confrontation with Lee Fortis, chief curator at The Oval, during the training session on Tuesday and declared that they did nothing wrong, which would have damaged the strip and confirmed they won't lodge any comment. The on-field verbal spats between the players extended to the off-field drama. Gambhir, visibly upset, was involved in a heated exchange with Fortis. The Indian head coach, on several occasions, pointed his finger at Fortis and even threw a couple of expletives. Kotak was seen stepping in, taking Lee away and having a brief conversation with him. While Kotak appeared to diffuse the situation while explaining their stance, Gambhir, who stood near the nets, pointed his finger towards Lee and furiously said, "You don't tell us what to do." According to ESPNcricinfo, Lee was unhappy with India using he majority of the main square for their training session. The Indian batting coach feels that pitch curators are "overprotective" and "possessive" about the square and the ground, but there is no need to be "arrogant" about something that is not an "antique piece". "When we were looking at the pitch. They had sent a man to send a message for us to stay 2.5 m away from the pitch. This was a little surprising. We were wearing joggers. It was quite awkward. We know curators are a little overprotective and possessive about the square and the ground. What he said about the head coach is his opinion, and I don't want to comment," Kotak told reporters in the post-match press conference. "There is nothing wrong with looking at a wicket wearing rubber spikes. Curators need to understand that the people they're talking to are highly skilled and intelligent. When you are working with highly skilled and intelligent people, if you sound a bit arrogant or if you come across like you know you can be protective, but at the end of the day, it's a cricket pitch, it's not some antique piece that you cannot touch because it is 200 years old and it will be broken," he added. He went on to claim that Lee was shouting when the support staff was bringing the cooling box, which weighed around 10 kilos. The way Lee addressed the staff members didn't sit well with Gambhir, prompting him to confront the chief curator while defending his teammates, something he has done before with the Naveen-ul-Haq incident in the IPL being one of them. "No, when he was bringing the cooling box there, he was sitting on the roller, he shouted and told the support staff not to take it there. Now the weight of that cooling box will be 10 kilos, according to me. It will not be more than that. And what we are doing there," he said. "So, it is good to be a little possessive, and it is also good to be protective, but not that much. So, then Gautam just said that do not talk to the support staff like this, because the support staff, we all come under the head coach. Any head coach will say that you cannot shout from there and say this," he added. Kotak claimed that the build-up to the incident began when they were inspecting the crease and were told to stand 2.5 meters away from the crease. Despite the fiasco, he confirmed that India won't push for a complaint against Lee. "So, it was very normal. Then he came there, and he was saying, I think it got built up from the wicket when we were watching. And to be very, very honest, if you want me to be very honest, before coming to Oval, most of the team knows that the curator is not the easiest person to get on with. And I am sure you also would be aware of it. So, that gives a lot of answers. No, I do not think there is any point in complaining," he said. "I felt when we were looking at the wicket, when the coaches stood near it, he (Fortis) sent someone who told us to stay 2.5 meters away from the pitch. But it was a very strange way of saying you go and stand two and a half metres away from here. So, I think that is what started because Gautam is someone who does not even speak unnecessary things. He does not talk to anyone," he added. While Kotak gave a detailed explanation of the situation, Lee refrained from commenting on the heated exchange. While speaking to the reporters, he classified Gambhir as a "touchy guy" and remained tight-lipped about the rest of the matter. "It is quite a big game coming up. It is not my job to be happy with him (Gautam Gambhir) or not. I have never met him before today. You saw what he was like this morning. It's okay, I am fine. We have nothing to hide," he said while speaking to reporters. As the gruelling Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy heads towards the final Test at The Oval, England are in a 2-1 lead after the fourth contest in Manchester ended in a draw. India will look to return home on a high, as the highly anticipated fixture begins on Thursday.
India Today
18 hours ago
- Sport
- India Today
Nathan Lyon on West Indies Test snub: Was disappointed on a number of levels
Nathan Lyon expressed disappointment after being left out of Australia's third Test against the West Indies at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica. Although fit and available, Lyon was omitted from the playing XI - a decision that surprised both him and his teammates. The change was a tactical move to strengthen the pace attack, given the expected conditions favouring fast bowlers in the pink-ball day-night including Tony Dodemaide, stressed that Lyon's exclusion was due to 'exceptional circumstances' and did not reflect his form or fitness. The decision was based on historical data and training analysis, which indicated that spin bowling would likely have a limited role in the Read: How Mitchell Starc's spell to Sachin Tendulkar showed he was destined for greatness On his omission, Lyon said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo, "There's no point hiding behind it, I was disappointed with the decision, but I totally understood it.''Disappointed on a number of levels that: One, I believe I can play a role in any conditions, and I still honestly believe that. And then honestly, the other one was not to walk out on the field with Starcy. I've played 90-odd Test matches with Starcy, so to be able to walk out there with him in his 100th would have been amazing. But I was still there, running the drinks, and still part of it,' Lyon hammer West Indies in JamaicaThe Test against the West Indies was a historic match, highlighted by Mitchell Starc's record-breaking performance in his 100th Test. Starc took the fastest five-wicket haul in Test history, claiming five wickets in just 15 balls, including three in his opening over. He finished with figures of 6/9, becoming the fourth Australian to reach 400 Test West Indies were bowled out for just 27 runs, the second-lowest total in Test history, narrowly avoiding New Zealand's record low of 26 set in 1955. Scott Boland complemented Starc's brilliance with a hat-trick, further dismantling the hosts' batting emphatic 176-run victory secured a 3-0 series sweep for Australia, allowing them to retain the Frank Worrell Trophy and showcase their dominance in the Caribbean.- Ends
Time of India
3 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
IND vs ENG Live Score, 4th Test Match Day 5: KL Rahul, Shubman Gill and rain
13:07 (IST) Jul 27 England are anxiously waiting to see if star all-rounder Ben Stokes will be fit to bowl on the final day of the fourth Test at Old Trafford, after KL Rahul and Shubman Gill's defiant partnership left the hosts short of answers without their strike bowler. Stokes, the leading wicket-taker in the series, did not bowl a single over in India's second innings across 63 overs on Day 4. India finished the day at 174/2, thanks to an unbroken 174-run stand between Rahul and Gill for the third wicket. The England camp later revealed that Stokes was feeling "stiff and sore", and a final decision on his availability will be made following an overnight medical assessment. India, who had slumped early in their innings, staged a remarkable recovery as Rahul and Gill batted through two full sessions without losing a wicket. England's attack, particularly once the ball softened, appeared toothless without Stokes' ability to break partnerships or create pressure out of nowhere. Their only real opportunity came when Gill mistimed a shot off Brydon Carse, but Liam Dawson put down the chance at backward point — a drop that encapsulated England's frustrating day. Having returned from hamstring surgery earlier this year, Stokes underwent an intense rehabilitation programme to be ready for this marquee series against India. His commitment has shown — he's already bowled 129 overs in the series, the most he's ever delivered in a single Test series. Stokes retired hurt due to cramps on Day 3 but returned to the field and later scored a brilliant 141 on Day 4, his first Test century in over two years. "He's a bit stiff and sore," said England assistant coach Marcus Trescothick, speaking to ESPNcricinfo. "He's had a big workload over the past few weeks. Batting for that long in the first innings took a toll — he was cramping up. We're hopeful that with a night's rest and more physio work, he'll be good to go tomorrow." Stokes was seen clutching his hamstring while fielding, raising concerns. However, Trescothick downplayed the incident. "It's just a build-up. From where he's come from to where he is now, it's a massive workload. We're trying to manage that. Yesterday's cramps raised a bit of concern, but we'll see how he pulls up in the morning," he added. Interestingly, England had already decided not to use Stokes with the ball on Day 4, acknowledging the risk of overworking him. His physical strain has been evident — after bowling 19.2 overs on the final day at Lord's to secure a win, Stokes admitted he had to spend four days in bed recovering. At Old Trafford, he has already bowled 24 overs across two days, claiming 5/72 — but it appears to have taken a significant toll. "If he were off the field, he wouldn't be eligible to bowl tomorrow," Trescothick clarified. Stokes hasn't played white-ball cricket in nearly two years and has opted out of The Hundred. He's unlikely to return to competitive action until the Ashes begin in November. With the Test — and possibly the series — hanging in the balance, England will be hoping their inspirational captain has one final spell left in him.
India.com
3 days ago
- Sport
- India.com
Top 5 Asian Batters With Most Runs In An England Test Series: Shubman Gill Outshines Mohammad Yousuf, Virat Kohli With Record Aggregate
photoDetails english 2937590 Updated:Jul 27, 2025, 12:34 PM IST Shubman Gill - 697* Runs (Ongoing) 1 / 7 Gill surpassed Mohammad Yousuf's previous record of 631 runs (Pakistan, 2006) with a stellar series so far. With one Test remaining, Gill stands on 697 runs* and an average above 101, keeping the record within grasp. Mohammad Yousuf - 631 Runs (Pakistan, 2006) 2 / 7 The only Pakistani on this leaderboard, Yousuf, scored 631 runs in four Tests at an average above 90, now second to Gill. Rahul Dravid - 602 Runs (India, 2002) 3 / 7 'The Wall' amassed 602 runs during India's 2002 England tour, averaging 100.33 and scoring three centuries and a fifty across just six innings. Virat Kohli - 593 Runs (India, 2018) 4 / 7 Kohli marked 593 runs in the five-match tour of England in 2018, including two hundreds and three fifties, at nearly a 60 average despite India losing 1-4. Sunil Gavaskar - 542 Runs (India, 1979) 5 / 7 The Indian batting titan scored 542 runs in the four-match England series of 1979, including one century and four fifties, averaging above 77. Shubman Gill On Verge Of History 6 / 7 Shubman Gill is on the verge and eyes closer to Sunil Gavaskar's record for most runs as captain in a series. He surpassed Virat Kohli on Day 4. 7 / 7 All Images:- X, ESPNcricinfo
