Investigation launched in North Yorkshire
An amateur cricket team in North Yorkshire is currently under investigation following accusations of cheating. The allegations centre on a player who reportedly clicked his fingers to imitate the sound of a bat clipping the ball, potentially misleading umpires into awarding wickets. The North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League has initiated a formal investigation into the matter.
The controversy gained significant attention after footage of an alleged incident during a Division Two match went viral on social media. The clip, which occurred on a Saturday between Saltburn 2nd XI and Norton 2nd XI, shows a fielder appearing to click his fingers as the ball passes a batter. Following this, Saltburn’s wicketkeeper caught the ball behind the stumps, and the team appealed, leading to the umpire giving the batter out.
The video has been widely shared, with one report indicating it had been viewed nearly five million times by Tuesday lunchtime. Many online users have suggested the fielder, positioned at slip, was attempting to mimic the sound of an edge to influence the umpire’s decision. The incident has been dubbed “Clicky Ponting” online, referencing former Australian captain Ricky Ponting.
Previous incidents and wider context
This is not the first time such an allegation has been made against Saltburn. Rory Cotterill, captain of Middlesbrough CC’s 2nd XI, claimed similar incidents occurred during a game against Saltburn in June, which Middlesbrough lost by 29 runs. He shared a video that he alleged showed the same player clicking his fingers, with commenters describing it as scandalous.
One individual who posted the video on social media, Ben Mummery, described it as “about the worst case of cheating I’ve ever seen in cricket.” He also noted that Saltburn’s wicketkeeper reportedly has a high number of catches this season. Saltburn currently leads the Division Two league table, having won 10 of their 15 matches. Their wicketkeeper also leads the league in fielding dismissals with 34, of which 31 were catches behind the stumps. In an earlier match in July against Shildon Railway Cricket Club, which Saltburn won by 22 runs, their wicketkeeper recorded eight catches.
The league confirmed receiving a formal complaint regarding alleged incidents in a Division Two game on Saturday, 25 July 2026. They stated that a full investigation has been initiated and no further comment would be made until the formal processes are complete. Saltburn won the game in question by 159 runs and are currently at the top of Division Two with a 17-point lead.
This type of alleged deception is not unprecedented in cricket. One notable historical instance is the “Sandpapergate” scandal in a 2018 test match between Australia and South Africa, where Australia’s Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera attempting to rough up the ball with sandpaper. Another example involves former England test cricketer Marcus Trescothick, who, in his autobiography, mentioned consuming Murray Mints during games in 2005 to enhance his saliva for maintaining the ball’s shine, a practice some interpreted as ball-tampering.
The practice of having one side of the ball shinier and smoother than the other allows it to swing more, making it more challenging for batters. The current investigation by the North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League will proceed until its formal processes are complete.
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Source: theguardian.com
