The ‘Clicky Ponting’ scandal that stunned the cricket world
A bizarre allegation of cheating in English club cricket has turned an amateur player into an unlikely viral sensation. Nicknamed “Clicky Ponting”, the fielder is accused of clicking his fingers to fool the umpires into believing the batsmen have overplayed the ball.
The controversy has struck a chord as matches in English club cricket leagues are played without technology such as DRS or Snickometer. Unlike international games, where replays and audio technology help determine whether the ball has brushed the bat, umpires in these community-based competitions rely entirely on what they see and hear on the pitch. With no video reviews available, trust between players and officials remains central to the game, making the allegations particularly serious.
The North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League launched an investigation after videos circulating online appeared to show Saltburn Cricket Club fielder Brian Devine standing at slip or in a silly spot, snapping his fingers as the ball missed the bat before the keeper completed the catch. The alleged tactic earned him the nickname “Clicky Ponting” – a play on Australian great Ricky Ponting – and quickly became one of cricket’s most talked about stories.
After the controversy erupted, the league confirmed it had opened a formal investigation into the matter.
“The league has received a formal complaint regarding alleged incidents in the Division Two game on Saturday 25 July 2026. A full investigation has been launched and no further comment will be made until formal processes are completed.”
The player at the center of the allegations has since been identified by English media as veteran club cricketer Brian Devine. The company secretary and livestock auction director declined to discuss the controversy when contacted by the Daily Mail.
“Naturally I can’t comment on that.
‘CLICKY PONTING’ goes viral
What started as a cricket controversy at a local club quickly became a global talking point. Videos showing the alleged finger-clicking tactic quickly spread across social media, earning Devine the nickname “Clicky Ponting” – a play on the name of former Australia captain Ricky Ponting.
The alleged deception involved Devin pouncing on a slip or silly spot and snapping his fingers just as the ball was passing the bat to create the sound of an edge before the keeper completed the catch. The incident prompted reactions from former South African fast bowler Dale Steyn and broadcaster Piers Morgan, while opposition players claimed the tactic was used repeatedly throughout the season.
Boro 2s skippa here, there were 2 other incidents during this game which resulted in a 15 and 16 year old being cheated out of an innings along with this one. I was on the non-striking end at a time when I was unknowingly watching them cheat in real time. We lost this match by 29 runs. Shocking. pic.twitter.com/BTTngKbjw3— rory99 (@rorycotters9) July 27, 2026
Norton player Noman Shabir claimed clicking had become a regular part of Saltburn matches.
“On all evidence he did that to all the clubs basically every game. It’s interesting that when he found out and the clicking stopped, the goals stopped for a long time.
Middlesbrough captain Rory Cotterill also claimed two teenage batsmen were victims of an alleged scam.
“I was at the non-striker’s end … watching them cheat in real time. We lost that game by 29 runs. Shocking.”
AN INVESTIGATION IS IN PROGRESS
The controversy also brought Saltburn’s remarkable numbers under scrutiny. The records show that wicketkeeper Josh Bowes has taken 31 catches in the last eight matches, including an extraordinary eight catches in one innings.
In comparison, the Test cricket record for most wicket dismissals in an innings is seven, jointly held by Wasim Bari, Bob Taylor, Ian Smith and Ridley Jacobs.
Following an online backlash, live streams of several Saltburn matches were reportedly removed from the club’s website, while Devine’s mother-in-law Georgia Vaughan defended him by saying the situation was “completely out of hand” and describing him as an “honest man”.
The investigation is ongoing and the league is expected to determine if the finger tap was an intentional fraud or just an accident. By then, “Clicky Ponting” had become one of the most unusual nicknames and one of the strangest controversies cricket has seen in recent years.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
29 Jul 2026 10:49 IST