Amateur cricketer 'Clicky Ponting' banned for two years and club relegated over viral cheating

An amateur cricketer dubbed 'Clicky Ponting' has been banned from the sport for two years over cheating during games.

North Yorkshire & South Durham Cricket League (NYSDCL) added that Brian Devine's suspension "covers playing, coaching, umpiring, scoring and managing junior teams".

His team, Saltburn Cricket Club, have also been fined £300, and their 2nd XI has been relegated to Division Three of the NYSDCL and will start the 2027 season with a 60-point deduction.

Their first XI had already been relegated from the NYSD Premier League after finishing 11th.

Video of Devine - whose nickname is a nod to former Australian captain Ricky Ponting - went viral over the summer.

He was accused of tricking umpires by clicking his fingers to make the sound of a ball nicking the bat as deliveries were missed and caught by the wicketkeeper.

In a statement in July, the NYSD confirmed it has received complaints relating to the conduct of Devine and Saltburn in multiple matches.

NYSDCL told Sky Sports on Friday that it "recognises the strain this has placed on many people, especially those who were abused online and in person".

"We ask everyone to respect that the formal process is now complete," it added. "The league will make no further comment."

In a statement first reported on gazettelive.co.uk, Saltburn Cricket Club said: "The club fully participated in the disciplinary proceedings and accept the decision of the appeal following the original decision from the league."

Speaking to Sky Sports, former England and Somerset player Tom Banton said of the scandal: "It's interesting, kind of clever in a way. But I cannot vouch for things like that, it's not acceptable.

"It's been caught out, and something is going to be done about it because I'm not sure it's in the rules of cricket."

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Ponting, who led Australia to two 50-over World Cup titles, told Reuters he found the controversy funny earlier this year.

"I had a bit of a chuckle to myself and pretty much forgot about it after that," he said in an interview with the news agency.

"I guess it wasn't a nice thing to have my name associated with someone who's blatantly cheating... honestly, I had a laugh and a joke about it."

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