A local cricket match in north-east England has become the subject of a global online debate after a video appeared to show a fielder clicking his fingers to distract a batter. The North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League has launched a full investigation into the incident, which occurred during a Division Two game between Saltburn second XI and Norton second XI.
The footage shows Saltburn fielder Brian Devine clicking his fingers as Norton batter Noman Shabir played a shot. Shabir was subsequently given out caught behind. Devine, a 38-year-old company secretary, has been suspended by Saltburn Cricket Club and will not play for the foreseeable future.
The original video of the incident has attracted significant attention on social media platform X. View counts vary between claim:11 and claim:12. The incident has been dubbed 'Clicky Ponting' by users online.
Reaction to the allegation has been sharp. Ben Mummery called for the harshest possible punishment, stating it was not cricket. Shane Rowley, who plays for Shildon Railway second XI, claimed he was also a victim of finger-clicking. Rowley said that while three of his teammates did nick the ball before being caught, others did not, and he appealed to the fielder at the time saying, 'You know I haven't hit that one.'
Rory Cotterill alleged further instances of cheating by Saltburn in a separate match against Middlesbrough second XI. Ian Palmer described the situation as scandalous. BBC Test Match Special commentator Jonathan Agnew questioned whether he could hear someone click their fingers from 30 yards away. Agnew noted that the wicketkeeper, Josh Bowes, would ultimately know what happened. Agnew also recalled seeing a wicketkeeper run on the spot to distract a batsman during a county match.
League standings and other performances
Saltburn won the match against Norton by 159 runs. The team sits at the top of Division Two, leading by 17 points. Saltburn have achieved 10 wins from 15 matches in the division. In a separate fixture, Saltburn wicketkeeper Josh Bowes took eight catches in a 22-run win over Shildon Railway second XI. Bowes leads the league standings with 31 catches, 10 more than any other player.
The men's Test record for catches by a wicketkeeper in a single innings is seven. Bowes' performance in the Shildon match exceeded this historical benchmark, though it occurred in a local league fixture. A Facebook user commented that Saltburn are the Argentina of local cricket.
The league received a formal complaint regarding the alleged incidents. A meeting involving Saltburn, the league, and legal representatives was held on a Tuesday night. Devine has lost sponsorship from a local Indian restaurant. Saltburn second XI previously conceded a cup match against Marton second XI due to an inability to field a team during the holiday season.
Historical context of cricket controversies
The incident has drawn comparisons to Sandpapergate, the 2018 scandal involving Australia and South Africa. Former England Test cricketer Marcus Trescothick admitted in his autobiography to eating Murray Mints during games in 2005 to retain ball shine. Trescothick wrote that he consumed up to 15 mints a day for this purpose.
Saltburn-by-the-Sea, where the club is based, is located in north-east England. The town is home to the oldest water-balanced funicular still in operation in Great Britain.