A club cricketer has been banned from the sport for two years following an investigation into cheating that went viral. Brian Devine, an amateur player for Saltburn's second team, was caught deceiving umpires by clicking his fingers near the bat to imitate an edge and claim wickets. The incident, which earned him the nickname 'Clicky Ponting,' led to amusement and outrage online.
Devine has been banned from all cricket involvement, including playing, coaching, and scoring, until September 2028. His team, Saltburn Cricket Club, has also been penalized with relegation to the third division, a 60-point deduction at the start of the 2027 season, and a £300 fine. The club has stated it accepts the decision of the league's appeal.
The scandal came to light after a match against Norton Cricket Club. Footage showed Devine, positioned at first slip, clicking his fingers as the ball passed the bat of batsman Noman Shabir, who had missed the delivery. The wicketkeeper caught the ball, and the umpire gave Shabir out based on the imitated sound.
Footage of the incident was live-streamed and preserved on the ECB's 'Play Cricket' website. A post on X by another amateur cricketer, Ben Mummery, highlighting the incident as "about the worst case of cheating I have ever seen in cricket," gained millions of views. Further investigation of archived clips suggested similar incidents had occurred previously, with Devine often at first slip. Statistics from the previous season showed a significant increase in catches when Devine played compared to when he did not.
Devine was suspended by his club when the cheating was revealed and lost his sponsorship from a local Indian restaurant. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) conducted a thorough investigation, including player interviews and a review of video evidence, before issuing the punishments.