Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden has weighed in on the recent verbal exchange between India's head coach Gautam Gambhir and The Oval's pitch curator, Lee Fortis, ahead of the fifth Test against England. The incident occurred during India's training session when Fortis asked Gambhir and other staff members to move away from the pitch square. This reportedly led to a heated argument, with the Indian camp claiming they were told to move despite wearing rubber spikes, which are generally permitted on the pitch. They also alleged that Fortis was rude during the exchange.

Hayden, while acknowledging Gambhir's right to defend his team, suggested that the Indian head coach could have chosen his words more carefully. Speaking on the 'All Over Bar The Cricket' podcast, Hayden stated, "This is a typical case in England. It is 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". He added, "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".

Hayden's comments suggest that he believes the curator might have been trying to assert his authority, a common occurrence in England, especially before a crucial match. He recalled his own playing days, where he would meditate on the pitch before a match and groundsmen would often ask him to move. He noted that groundsmen can be very protective of their surfaces. However, Hayden also implied that Gambhir's reaction, including a reported jibe about Fortis being "just a groundsman," could have been avoided.

Former Australian all-rounder Greg Blewett echoed Hayden's sentiments, calling the incident "ridiculous" and stating that Gambhir's frustration was justified. Blewett agreed that the language used by the India head coach "wasn't great" and that Gambhir could have handled the situation better.

The controversy arose as India and England prepared for the fifth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at The Oval. India won the game by six runs and leveled the series 2-2. The incident, however, sparked debate about the balance between a team's right to prepare and the curator's responsibility to maintain the pitch.