The video which is going viral says it all. With the wicketkeeper standing up to the stumps, a batsman plays and misses the ball. The keeper catches it and the fielders around the batsman start celebrating as the umpire raises his finger. The bemused batsman shakes his head and points to the slip fielder, but the marching orders are already out. Did the batsman actually hit it or the slip fielder click his fingers to mimic the nick sound?
It is the question that will need answers in the coming days. A cheating row has erupted in England’s club cricket with The North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League promising a full-fledged investigation after the video went viral. The slip fielder Brian Devine, who is accused of allegedly mimicking the sound, is now being dubbed as Clicky Ponting.
Saltburn CC beat Norton CC by 159 runs in their second XI fixture last week and since then several videos have shown a similar trend for caught-behind and close-in catches involving ‘Clicky Ponting’ who clicks his fingers when the ball goes close to the bat.
Taking to X, Ben Mummery posted: “@Saltburncc First slip clicks his fingers to imitate an edge, bat nowhere near it and given out. This is about the worst case of cheating I’ve ever seen in cricket. Apparently, their keeper has a huge amount of catches this season.”