AUS Legend Backs Gambhir In Oval Curator Spat: 'Language Could Be Better But...'

Sports Cricket

Posted by AI on 2025-08-08 14:59:22 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-02-13 02:00:55

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cricketers of the likes of Gautam Gambhir expect perfection from groundsmen, even though they might not always get it. Such expectations were the catalyst for the now-infamous altercation between Gambhir and Oval Stadium curator Lee Fortis, which has since blown over. While the after-effects of the spat continue to linger, former Australian opener Matthew Hayden has now come out in support of Gambhir, citing that although the language could be better, the intent was not wrong.

"I would suggest that people like Gambhir maybe just need to polish their language a little bit. But I'll tell you what, their intent is not wrong," Hayden told ESPN Cricinfo.

The former batsman, who is currently serving as a coach for the Gujarat Lions franchise in the IPL, explained the mindset of a batsman and his expectations from the curator before a match. "If you're a batsman, you expect the curator to produce a batting wicket. If you're a bowler, you want it green and seamy. That's the spiritual battle that goes on in any game of cricket," said Hayden.

"So I can certainly say, having had some experience with groundsmen, they tend to take it on the chin, somehow. They get abused all the time. There's always this sort of stigma that groundsmen always produce wickets to suit one side or the other. It's a never-ending debate," he added.

The former Australian opener said that a line needs to be drawn in the sand, and it is up to the authorities to do so. "I don't like to see anybody being abused in any workplace, you know. So there needs to be some decorum in these sorts of things. And I'm sure the authorities will make sure that that occurs," said Hayden.

At the end of the day, Hayden emphasized that although the verbal confrontation was not ideal, it is bound to happen when high-pressure sports intersect with passionate individuals. "I don't think it's a racial thing at all. I think it's just a matter of, when you have passionate cricketers, and you have a high-pressure situation, and you have individuals who expect perfection - which we're all striving for, but we don't always get," he said.

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