A fresh controversy has engulfed the amateur cricket club at the centre of the ‘Clicky Ponting’ cheating scandal after an umpire released footage appearing to show another player deploying the same tactic.
Saltburn Cricket Club has been at the centre of a storm after fielder Brian Devine allegedly cheated during a Second XI Division Two match against Norton. Video footage of Devine appearing to be clicking his fingers to mimic the sound of a bat edge, tricking the umpire into giving the batsman out, went viral on social media.
On Monday, the North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League launched an investigation into Devine, 38, who has since been suspended by the club for the ‘foreseeable future’.
Now, fresh footage has emerged appearing to show another Saltburn player successfully using the same tactic during a Third XI match against Marton.
The fielder appears to click his fingers as the ball flies past the bat and into the wicketkeeper’s gloves, prompting the on-field umpire to give the batsman out. The footage was posted on social media by Berkshire-based umpire Andy Smy.
The captain of another team in the same league earlier this week claimed the alleged tactic had not been confined to Saltburn’s victory over Norton.
Saltburn have been widely condemned on social media following multiple videos emerging
He said: ‘It was not confined to just one game. I was at the other end when one of our players was dismissed and I heard a big sound as the ball went through and immediately thought: “He’s out.”
‘The umpire didn’t hesitate either, but our batsman was adamant he was nowhere near the ball and couldn’t understand the loud click.
‘In all we had three batsmen given out caught behind, but all of them said they hadn’t touched the ball. One protested so much the umpire had to speak to him and threaten him with a warning.
‘I know of at least three other teams who now have suspicions and it should be noted that in one match against Shildon their wicketkeeper took eight catches.
‘You hear of all kinds of things going on in cricket but this is something I haven’t heard of before. I hope the league takes appropriate action.’
Earlier this week, Saltburn’s Second XI forfeited their match against Marton, dumping themselves out of a cup competition, with a source close to the league saying ‘none of the players will have wanted anything to do with this game while they’re under such focus’.
They did, however, return to the field on Saturday for a league match against Marton. And table-toppers Saltburn crashed to a nine-wicket defeat without Devine fielding at slip, with Marton reaching their total of 101 in just 20 overs.
Amateur cricket player Brian Devine has been caught appearing to click his fingers to make it appear that a batter has been caught behind when in fact they haven’t hit the ball at all
Devine has been dubbed as ‘Clicky Ponting’ on social media for his alleged actions on the cricket field
Saltburn player has been caught on camera seeming to be clicking his fingers
Devine, a father and auction mart worker from Guisborough, North Yorkshire, is planning to ‘lie low’ until the scandal dies down.
A friend said: ‘Brian is completely bewildered by the way this has gone all around the world.
‘He’s had an Australian podcast offering to pay his legal bills today – it’s the first he’s heard that he’s got any legal bills and he’s hoping it won’t get that far.
‘His mates have been telling him to sell his story in Australia, but he just wants it all to go away and hopes he can get back to playing cricket, though at the moment that feels impossible.
‘He woke up on Monday morning thinking the world was still the same place he’d left it the night before and suddenly his story was all over the world – in Australia, India, New Zealand and the UK, of course.
‘He understands why there is an investigation but the reaction from around the world has knocked him sideways.’
The North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League said it was treating the allegations of cheating ‘with the utmost seriousness’ and called for the ‘rights of all parties’ to be respected amid intense scrutiny on social media.
‘We would want to place on record our genuine concern for the welfare of those at Saltburn Cricket Club and ask for all to take that into account. There are many people at the club and one of our aims will be to provide them with any wellbeing support we can,’ the league said.
‘Whilst we understand, to some degree, the interest this issue has generated in the press and media, it is imperative that, now this process is under way, the rights of all parties are observed, including the overriding principles of natural justice and the right to a fair hearing for any individual or entity concerned.
‘Anything less risks prejudicing any formal action which may follow.’
Saltburn, in a statement on Wednesday, said: ‘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 run entirely by volunteers.’
