Saltburn Cricket Club concedes match amid ‘finger-clicking’ investigation
Saltburn Cricket Club under investigation
Saltburn Cricket Club has conceded a recent cup match following an investigation launched by the North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League. The league is looking into allegations of cheating against one of the club’s players, which have drawn significant attention on social media. The club’s second team was scheduled to play against Marton’s second team in a Division Two Hundred competition fixture but was unable to field a team.
The controversy stems from an incident during a match between Saltburn and Norton Cricket Club. Footage from this game, which has circulated widely online, shows an alleged ‘finger-clicking’ incident. This clip has garnered over seven and a half million views on X, leading to the player involved being referred to as ‘Clicky Ponting‘.
The alleged incident involved Saltburn batter Brian Devine, who is accused of clicking his finger as the ball passed Norton batter Noman Shabir’s bat. Following this, the ball was caught by wicketkeeper Josh Bowes, and an appeal to the umpire resulted in the batter being given out. Other videos featuring Saltburn and Devine from previous matches have also surfaced, alleging similar occurrences.
Player suspended and club response
In response to the allegations, Saltburn Cricket Club announced that the player at the centre of the complaint has been suspended and will not play for the club for the foreseeable future, pending the outcome of the investigation. The club stated it is treating the allegation with the utmost seriousness and is fully cooperating with the league’s inquiry. They described themselves as a family-centric club that acted decisively once the complaint was made known.
The league confirmed it received a formal complaint regarding alleged incidents in a Division Two game and has initiated a full investigation. Both the league and the club have declined to comment further while the formal processes are underway. The England and Wales Cricket Board has also not commented on the incident.
The alleged ‘finger-clicking’ act involves a slip fielder making a clicking sound as the ball passes the bat, mimicking the noise of an edge. This action, it is suggested, could trick umpires into giving wickets. The team’s wicketkeeper then catches the ball behind the stumps, and an appeal is made.
The incident has sparked discussions within the cricketing world. England and Somerset’s Tom Banton commented on the situation, describing it as “clever” but “not acceptable.” He indicated that something would need to be done as he was unsure if such an action was permissible under the rules of cricket.
Wider implications and previous incidents
The controversy has also brought to light other statistics related to Saltburn Cricket Club. The club currently sits at the top of the Division Two league table, having won 10 of their 15 matches this season. Their wicketkeeper leads the league in fielding dismissals, with 34, of which 31 were catches behind the stumps.
Earlier in July, Saltburn secured a 22-run victory against Shildon Railway Cricket Club in a match where their wicketkeeper took eight catches. For context, the record for most catches in an innings by a wicketkeeper at Test level is seven. The record for most catches by a wicketkeeper in a Test series is 29 across ten innings.
Following the viral video, Middlesbrough second XI captain Rory Cotterill alleged that two additional incidents occurred during a game between his side and Saltburn in June. These alleged incidents, according to Cotterill, led to younger players being “cheated out of an innings.” The original poster of the video described the incident as “about the worst case of cheating I’ve ever seen in cricket.”
A meeting involving Saltburn, the league, and legal representatives took place on Tuesday night, though the outcomes of this meeting have not yet been made public. The club’s second team was due to play against Marton in a first-round match in the Division Two Hundred competition, a 100-ball-per-side format.”
Source: bbc.com
Amelia Stockwell is a Sports Reporter at News GB. She covered two Commonwealth Games for a national outlet. She focuses on tennis, cricket and athletics and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from the University of York and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in York, she runs with a local club and follows county cricket. “The quiet stories often matter most by the end of the season.”
