'Clicky Ponting' Cheating Video Tops 7.5 Million Views: English Amateur Cricketer Banned for Two Years as Club Is Relegated
The North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League (NYSDCL) announced on November 6 that Brian Devine, the amateur player who went viral this summer for clicking his fingers during a match to fake the sound of a ball nicking the bat, has been handed a two-year ban from the sport: from September 30, 2026 to September 29, 2028, he may take no part in any cricket under the jurisdiction of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), including playing, coaching, umpiring, scoring and managing junior teams. His club, Saltburn CC, was fined 300 pounds (about $403), its second XI was relegated to the league's third division and will start the 2027 season with a 60-point deduction; Middlesbrough CC's second XI, previously relegated, keeps its place in Division Two as a result.
The case began with a Division Two match on July 25: Saltburn's second XI faced Norton CC, and Norton batter Norman Shabir missed his first delivery from bowler Sam Morrison, the ball being taken by wicketkeeper Josh Bowes. Devine, fielding at first slip, clicked his fingers just as the ball passed the bat, creating the sound of an edge, and the umpire gave Shabir out; Shabir protested before walking off. The clip has since passed 7.5 million views online, and Devine was dubbed 'Clicky Ponting' by social media users, a play on the name of former Australia captain Ricky Ponting. Ben Mummery, the player who first posted the footage, called it the worst case of cheating he had ever seen in cricket.
After the video went viral, further footage emerged appearing to show Devine using the same tactic in other matches, and the league opened an investigation lasting several weeks: player interviews, written statements, and a detailed review of video footage by a three-person disciplinary panel. Devine was first suspended by his club for the rest of the 2026 season; after the investigation, both he and the club accepted the misconduct charges but appealed the sanctions, and a separate panel that heard the appeal on October 26 has now concluded the process with the penalties upheld.
In a statement to Sky Sports, the league said: 'The league recognises the strain this has placed on many people, especially those who were abused online and in person. We ask everyone to respect that the formal process is now complete.' The league said it would make no further comment. Saltburn CC said the club 'fully participated in the disciplinary proceedings and accept the decision of the appeal following the original decision from the League. We are now focussing on preparations for the 2027 season.'
When the incident came to light, Saltburn's second XI was top of Division Two with 10 wins from 15 matches. Former England player Tom Banton said at the time that the trick was 'kind of clever in a way' but 'not acceptable.' Devine, when contacted by media earlier in the process, said he was unable to comment.
Source: North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League
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Photo: 英格兰俱乐部板球比赛资料图（Acabashi摄，CC BY-SA 4.0，经Wikimedia Commons），画面含滑垒守备位视角，非本次事件现场图
