Brian Devine, the club cricketer nicknamed “Clicky Ponting” after footage appeared to show him tricking an umpire, has been banned from all cricket for two years, according to The Guardian. His team, Saltburn CC’s 2nd XI, has been relegated, and the club has been fined by the England and Wales Cricket Board.
What happened
The Guardian reports that Devine, 38, became known online in July after a clip from Division Two of the North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League (NYSDCL) went viral. In the footage, Devine was seen clicking his fingers while fielding. The umpire was fooled into believing that a Norton CC batter had edged a catch behind the wicket.
The incident earned Devine his nickname, a reference to the former Australia captain Ricky Ponting. Saltburn CC provisionally suspended him for the rest of the 2026 season while the league investigated. According to The Guardian, more examples of the same practice came to light and were widely shared online.
A three-person disciplinary panel interviewed players, took written statements and reviewed the footage. Both Devine and Saltburn CC then accepted misconduct charges. The sanctions were announced on Friday:
- Devine is banned from all cricket under the auspices of the England and Wales Cricket Board until the end of the 2028 season. The ban covers “playing, coaching, umpiring, scoring and managing junior teams”.
- Saltburn CC appealed against its sanction. After the appeal, the club was fined £300.
- Saltburn’s 2nd XI has been relegated to Division Three of the NYSDCL and will begin the 2027 season with a 60-point deduction.
- Middlesbrough CC, which had previously been relegated, keeps its place in Division Two.
In a statement reported by The Guardian, the NYSDCL said it wanted to draw a line under the case. It acknowledged the impact on a volunteer-run club that had faced widespread condemnation and headlines around the world. “The League recognises the strain this has placed on many people, especially those who were abused online and in person,” the statement read. “We ask everyone to respect that the formal process is now complete.”
Saltburn CC said: “The club fully participated in the disciplinary proceedings and accept the decision of the appeal following the original decision from the League. We are now focussing on preparations for the 2027 season.”
Why it matters if you live in United Kingdom
Recreational cricket in England and Wales runs on volunteers, and many newcomers to the UK join their local club to play, coach, umpire or help with junior sections. This case shows how the rules apply at that level, not just in the professional game.
The ban reaches well beyond playing. As The Guardian reports, Devine’s suspension covers coaching, umpiring, scoring and managing junior teams. If you are a parent whose child plays club cricket, this shows that sanctions under the England and Wales Cricket Board can remove someone from every role in the sport, including roles that involve young players.
Clubs can be punished as well as individuals. Saltburn CC was fined and its second team relegated with a points deduction. For anyone who plays for or helps run a club, the case is a reminder that one player’s misconduct can affect the whole team’s league position and finances.
Other clubs feel the effects too. Middlesbrough CC keeps its Division Two place because of the decision. In local leagues, a disciplinary ruling against one club can change the table for others.
Online attention has real consequences. The league’s statement refers directly to people who were abused online and in person. The original clip spread widely, and The Guardian notes that the volunteer-run club faced condemnation around the world. Fans who share or comment on footage from grassroots matches should bear in mind that the people involved are often amateurs and volunteers, not professional athletes.
What to watch next
The NYSDCL has said the formal process is now complete, and Saltburn CC has accepted the outcome of the appeal. So further action from either side does not look likely, based on The Guardian’s report.
The next milestone is the 2027 season. Saltburn’s 2nd XI will start it in Division Three, already 60 points behind. Its results will show how quickly the team can recover from the deduction. Middlesbrough CC will go into the same season in Division Two.
Devine’s ban runs until the end of the 2028 season. Until then he cannot play, coach, umpire, score or manage junior teams in cricket under the England and Wales Cricket Board.
The case may also prompt other clubs and leagues to think about how they deal with gamesmanship and how they protect volunteers when a local incident goes viral. The Guardian’s report does not say whether the NYSDCL or the England and Wales Cricket Board plans any wider changes, so readers should watch for official announcements rather than assume new rules are coming.
Source: The Guardian
Sources
- The Guardian: ‘Clicky Ponting’ cheating scandal cricketer banned and club relegated, accessed 6 November 2026
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