Brian Devine, an amateur cricketer in England, has been suspended from all cricket under the England and Wales Cricket Board through late September 2028 after admitting to clicking his fingers to imitate the sound of a bat connecting with the ball, The Messenger reported. His club, Saltburn, was relegated to division three, fined 300 pounds and will begin next season with a 60-point deduction.
The case matters because amateur cricket operates without video replays, requiring umpires to trust players when catches are claimed. A fielder faking the sound of bat on ball can fool an umpire into calling a batsman out, undermining that trust, according to The Messenger.
Video Surfaced in July Shows Finger-Clicking
The allegations came to light in July when a video showed Devine, a fielder for the second-division Saltburn team, clicking his fingers to imitate the sound of a bat connecting with the ball before a player was called out.
@Saltburncc First slip clicks his fingers to imitate an edge, bat nowhere near it and given out. This is about the worst case of cheating I’ve ever seen in cricket. Apparently, their keeper has a huge amount of catches this season.@talkSPORT @bbctms @SkyCricket @TailendersPod pic.twitter.com/iM7lZfKF5q
League Investigation Led to Admissions Friday
The North Yorkshire & South Durham Cricket League spent weeks interviewing players and reviewing video footage before bringing charges against Devine and Saltburn C.C. Both admitted the charges, the league said in a statement Friday.
Ban Covers All Cricket Roles Through 2028
Devine’s two-year suspension covers playing, coaching, umpiring, scoring and managing junior teams through late September 2028, the league said. Saltburn was relegated to division three and fined 300 pounds, approximately $400.
Scandal Dubbed “Clicky Ponting”
British media dubbed the case “Clicky Ponting,” a play on the name of Australian great Ricky Ponting, crictoday.com reported. The nickname refers to the finger-clicking used to fake the sound.
Joins History of Cricket Scandals
The case follows other cricket scandals including the 2018 “Sandpapergate” ball-tampering episode that led to suspensions for three Australian international players, and spot-fixing scandals that have resulted in lengthy bans, The Messenger reported.
Saltburn Has Not Responded to Allegations
The league acknowledged the strain the case placed on many people, especially those abused online and in person, and asked everyone to respect that the formal process is now complete. Saltburn was asked for comment Friday and has not publicly responded.
Common Questions About the Devine Ban
What is “Clicky Ponting”? British media gave the scandal that nickname as a play on the name of Australian cricket great Ricky Ponting. The name refers to the finger-clicking Devine used to fake the sound of bat on ball, crictoday.com reported.
What exactly is Brian Devine banned from doing? The suspension through late September 2028 covers playing, coaching, umpiring, scoring and managing junior teams. It applies to all cricket under the England and Wales Cricket Board, the league said.
What happened to Saltburn Cricket Club? The team was relegated from the second division to division three and fined 300 pounds, about $400. Saltburn will also start next season with a 60-point deduction after admitting charges alongside Devine.
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