An amateur cricketer who became known as "Clicky Ponting" after his cheating went viral has been banned from all cricket for two years. Brian Devine, who played for Saltburn Cricket Club's 2nd team, was caught on video clicking as the ball passed the bat, deceiving the umpire into giving caught-behind decisions.
Punishments Handed Down
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has imposed the ban, which runs until September 29, 2028. It covers playing, coaching, umpiring, scoring and managing junior teams. Saltburn's 2nd team have been relegated to the third division and will start the 2027 season with a 60-point deduction, along with a £300 fine.
Saltburn Cricket Club issued a statement saying: "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."
Investigation and Scandal
The punishments followed a thorough process that included player interviews, written statements and a detailed review of the video footage. The North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League have emailed every club in their system to acknowledge the strain the scandal had caused.
Saltburn suspended Devine in July after a video of him clicking to dismiss a batter for Norton went viral on social media. Saltburn won that match by 159 runs to go 17 points clear at the top of their division.
At the time, the club's statement read: "We are treating this allegation with the utmost seriousness and, as a family-centric Club, we are fully cooperating with the NYSD League's investigation. We believe that the club acted decisively as soon as the complaint and investigation were made known to us. The player at the centre of the complaint has been suspended and will not play again for the club this season or in the foreseeable future, pending the outcome of this investigation. Initial discussions have already taken place between club officials and the league. This has been a very distressing and stressful experience for all those concerned, and we would ask that this reality is borne in mind and that personal boundaries are respected, as we are an amateur club entirely run by volunteers. We will be making no further comment at this time."
