Finger-Clicking Cricketer Banned for Two Years, Club Relegated

An English club cricketer nicknamed “Clicky Ponting” after a viral video has been banned from the sport for two years, and his team has been relegated. The North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League announced the sanctions on Friday, according to The Guardian and Al Jazeera.

Brian Devine, who plays for Saltburn CC, was accused of clicking his fingers in the field to imitate the sound of a ball touching the bat. Saltburn's 2nd XI has dropped to a lower division, fined and docked points for next season.

What did Devine do to earn the nickname?

The Guardian reported that footage from Division Two of the league went viral in July. In the clip, Devine clicks his fingers while fielding and persuades the umpire that a Norton CC batter had edged the ball to the wicketkeeper.

The nickname is a nod to former Australia captain Ricky Ponting. Further examples of the practice later emerged and were widely shared online, The Guardian said. Devine was provisionally suspended by his club for the rest of the 2026 season while the league investigated.

What penalty has Devine received?

Devine is suspended from all cricket under the jurisdiction of the England and Wales Cricket Board. The league said the ban runs from Sept. 30, 2026, to Sept. 29, 2028, according to Al Jazeera. The Guardian described it as lasting until the end of the 2028 season.

The ban covers playing, coaching, umpiring, scoring and managing junior teams, the league said.

What happens to Saltburn CC?

Saltburn CC has been fined £300, and its 2nd XI has been relegated to Division Three of the league. The team will begin the 2027 season with a 60-point deduction. The Guardian reported that the club appealed its original sanction, and the penalties above are the outcome of that appeal.

Middlesbrough CC, which had previously been relegated, keeps its place in Division Two, according to The Guardian.

How was the decision reached?

A three-person disciplinary panel reviewed the footage and considered player interviews and written statements. Both Devine and Saltburn CC accepted misconduct charges, the outlets reported.

Saltburn said it took full part in the proceedings and accepts the appeal decision. It added that it is now focused on preparing for the 2027 season.

What did the league and Ricky Ponting say?

The league said it recognizes the strain the episode has put on many people, especially those who were abused online and in person. The Guardian noted that Saltburn is a volunteer-run club that faced widespread condemnation and global headlines. The league asked everyone to respect that “the formal process is now complete,” and said it would make no further comment.

Ponting told Reuters earlier this year that he found the affair amusing and quickly moved on from it. He added that he was less pleased to have his name linked to someone he described as blatantly cheating, though he said he treated it as a joke.

Why does it matter?

The case shows that cheating in local amateur cricket can carry penalties for both the individual and the team. Devine's ban is not limited to playing. It also bars him from coaching, umpiring, scoring and managing junior teams anywhere under the board's authority, so it affects every role he could take in organized cricket in England and Wales for the next two years.

For Saltburn, the sanctions have a competitive cost. The 2nd XI will play 2027 a division lower and begin the season behind on points. For the league, the ruling closes a process that began with a short video clip and grew into an international story.

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Around Prague, based on reporting by The Guardian, Al Jazeera