Matthew Hayden noted that while Gautam Gambhir could have softened his language, the curator seemed intent on asserting his authority.
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Matthew Hayden Weighs In on Gambhir–Oval Curator Confrontation
Legendary Australian batter Matthew Hayden has shared his thoughts on Gautam Gambhir’s infamous altercation with the Oval pitch curator ahead of the fifth Test between India and England. During a practice session, Gambhir engaged in a heated exchange with curator Lee Fortis, telling him, “You don’t tell any of us what we need to do. You have no right to tell us, you’re just a groundsman, nothing more,” while pointing his finger at the chief curator.
India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak eventually intervened, pulling Fortis aside for a brief conversation to calm tensions.
Reflecting on the incident after the series ended 2-2, with India sealing victory at the Oval, Hayden noted that while Gambhir could have toned down his language, the curator also seemed to be asserting his authority over his home venue.
“This is a typical case in England. It’s a bit of a flex — here we are, final Test match, this is my venue — and they are going to try and make it difficult on Gautam Gambhir. But I think he’s got every right to tone it down. He could have used better language. But the reality is, his team is trying to train ahead of the most important Test match,” Matthew Hayden said on All Over Bar The Cricket.
“Gambhir could’ve probably handled it a little better”
During the same discussion, former Australian all-rounder Greg Blewett also weighed in on the Gambhir–Oval curator spat, calling some of the curator’s behaviour “ridiculous” and admitting he shares the frustration, even in his current role as a commentator.
Meanwhile, the Indian team refused to let the incident distract them, keeping their focus on the match. Their discipline paid off, as they produced a stellar performance to edge England by 6 runs on the final day, levelling the series 2-2.
