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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Barney Ronay at The Kia Oval

Gambhir’s India can’t escape the Fortis-verse on rain-hit day

Lee Fortis, the Oval’s head groundkeeper, at work on the outfield on day one of the fifth Test.
Lee Fortis, the Oval’s head groundkeeper, played a prominent role on day one of the fifth Test with all the work getting the covers on and off amid the rain showers. Photograph: Javier García/Shutterstock

Nothing does irony quite like Test cricket. Say what you like about the world’s most desiccated, Miss Havisham-ish team sport, out there trailing around the post-colonial world still dressed in its yellowing wedding dress. It’s definitely got a sense of humour.

On day one of the fifth England-India Test this was expressed in cosmic terms, and a single bold and improbable dramatic arc. Talk about groundsmen a lot. Tell groundsmen they’re nothing. One thing is for sure. You’re going to find yourself spending quite a lot of time watching groundsmen.

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