Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden feels India head coach Gautam Gambhir could have toned down his language during a fiery exchange with the Oval curator ahead of the crucial fifth Test, but noted it was a typical case of an English groundsman asserting authority over the pitch.

Gambhir was involved in a heated exchange of words with the Oval's chief curator Lee Fortis ahead of the fifth Test and was heard telling him "you don't tell us what we need to do" while pointing fingers at the groundstaff.

"They (curators) can get pretty protective about the surfaces. 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," Hayden said on 'All Over Bar The Cricket'.