An amateur cricket team in North Yorkshire is currently under investigation following accusations of cheating. The allegations centre on a player who is said to have clicked his fingers to imitate the sound of a bat hitting the ball, potentially misleading umpires into awarding wickets.
The North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League has launched a full investigation into a formal complaint received after a Division Two match on Saturday, 25 July 2026. The incident involved Saltburn 2nd XI and Norton 2nd XI.
Allegations and Viral Footage
Footage from the match, which has since circulated widely on social media, shows a fielder appearing to click his fingers as the batter attempts to hit the ball. The clip then shows Saltburn‘s wicketkeeper catching the ball behind the stumps, followed by an appeal to the umpire, who subsequently gave the batter out. This video has garnered significant attention, with reports indicating it neared five million views by Tuesday lunchtime and has been shared over 3 million times.
The incident has been dubbed “Clicky Ponting” online, a reference to former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, and has sparked considerable debate within the cricket community. Ben Mummery, who initially posted the video, 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.
The wicketkeeper for Saltburn leads the league in fielding dismissals, with 34, and 31 of those coming from catches behind the stumps. In an earlier match in July, Saltburn secured a victory against Shildon Railway Cricket Club, where their wicketkeeper took eight catches.
The league confirmed it has initiated a formal investigation and will not provide further comment until the process is complete. Saltburn Cricket Club has been contacted for comment regarding the allegations.
Previous Incidents and Wider Context
This is not the first time similar accusations have been made against Saltburn. Rory Cotterill, captain of Middlesbrough CC‘s 2nd XI, alleged that two similar incidents occurred during a game between his side and Saltburn in June. He shared a video purportedly showing the same player clicking his fingers, which commenters described as scandalous.
The current controversy has drawn comparisons to other alleged cheating scandals in cricket history. One notable example is “Sandpapergate” from 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 instance involved former England test cricketer Marcus Trescothick, who detailed in his autobiography how he consumed Murray Mints during games in 2005. He stated that certain sweets produced saliva that, when applied to the ball for cleaning, helped maintain its shine for longer, thereby enhancing its swing. This practice was interpreted by some as ball-tampering, as a shinier, smoother side of the ball allows for greater swing, making it more challenging for batters.
The North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League stated that they are taking the matter seriously. Saltburn won the game in question by 159 runs and currently sits at the top of Division Two, leading by 17 points, having won 10 of their 15 matches this season.
Source: theguardian.com
As News-UK's Sports News Writer, Oscar Pennington reports on rugby union, golf and boxing for readers across the country. He built a reputation for sharp explainer pieces on regional sport. He holds a degree in Journalism from Nottingham Trent University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Oscar lives in Nottingham, where he follows the pro golf tour and amateur boxing. “Context is what turns a result into a story.”
