A Teesside cricketer has been handed a two-year ban from the sport following the 'Clicky Ponting' controversy that drew widespread attention earlier this year. Brian Devine, who played for Saltburn Cricket Club's second team, was suspended after video footage appeared to show him clicking as the ball passed a Norton batsman's bat, leading the umpire to believe there had been contact.
The Norton player was given out. Additional footage from earlier Saltburn fixtures, which surfaced quickly, appeared to show Devine engaging in similar behaviour, prompting the North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League to open an investigation.
Club and Player Sanctions
Saltburn stood Devine down during the inquiry, confirming he would not play for the club again while it was ongoing. The club is believed to have fully assisted the league throughout the process. Disciplinary action was initiated against both Devine and Saltburn, concluding with an appeals hearing on October 26.
Teesside Live understands Devine has received a two-year suspension from all cricket under ECB authority, running from September 30, 2026 to September 29, 2028. The ban covers playing, coaching, umpiring, scoring and overseeing junior teams.
League Penalties and Fallout
Saltburn Cricket Club also faced sanctions as a result of the affair. Alongside a £300 fine, their second team have been demoted to the third division and will start the 2027 season with a 60-point deduction. Consequently, Middlesbrough CC's second team will retain their place in Division Two, having previously been confirmed as relegated at the end of the season.
A statement from 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."
Investigation Details and League Response
The matter was handled under the League's general conduct regulations, with an investigation spanning several weeks that included player interviews, written statements and a thorough review of the video footage.
In an email circulated to all clubs within the league, and seen by Teesside Live, the North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League acknowledged the strain the situation had placed on numerous individuals, with some subjected to abuse both online and in person. They urged all parties to respect that the formal process had now concluded and confirmed they would be making no further comment.
The league was approached for comment but had not responded at the time of publication. Following the initial scandal, a Saltburn CC statement on social media said: "This statement is issued in response to the widely publicised complaint made against a Saltburn Cricket Club member and, as a consequence, against the club more generally. 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."
