‘It’s not cricket’: cheating row after Saltburn 2nd XI fielder dubbed ‘Clicky Ponting’ appears to dupe umpire
A viral clip that appears to show a Saltburn 2nd XI fielder clicking his fingers to imitate the sound of a bat nick has provoked a row in club cricket. The footage, which circulated online on 28 July 2026, prompted accusations of unsporting behaviour and widespread comment across social media.
When the ball was delivered the batter played and the wicketkeeper took the catch to cheers, but the batter’s puzzled reaction prompted questions about what had actually happened. Observers asked whether the ball had been edged or whether a fielder had made a clicking noise intended to deceive the umpire. The incident involved a Saltburn 2nd XI player in the North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League and has been framed by some as alleged cheating. Australian cricket’s recent history of high-profile scandal, encapsulated by Sandpapergate, has been invoked in online discussion of the clip.
The video’s spread has led to the episode being nicknamed clickgate on social platforms, while the player accused of the clicking has been mockingly labelled "Clicky Ponting" in reference to the former Australian captain Ricky Ponting. Reaction has been swift and polarised, with many users expressing disbelief that such a tactic would be attempted in the amateur ranks. The clip has been widely shared and dissected by commentators familiar with the sport’s norms around appeals and umpiring calls.
The row has cut through the normal, convivial atmosphere of English club cricket, highlighting tensions that can surface in competitive fixtures. Although club cricket is often described as friendly, the intensity of local rivalries and the desire to win can bring unsavoury incidents into sharper relief. Players, officials and supporters within the North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League have all been part of the online debate, reflecting broader questions about sportsmanship at grassroots level.
Questions raised by the footage centre on whether the sound was intended to mimic a bat striking ball and whether that influenced the umpire’s decision to give the batter out. The clip shows the sequence of delivery, shot and wicketkeeper catch accompanied by audible reactions, and it is the timing of the alleged finger click that has drawn scrutiny. No formal disciplinary outcome is reported in the clip itself, but the episode has generated calls for clearer guidance and awareness among players about acceptable conduct.
The incident has prompted discussion beyond the local league, with commentators comparing it to prior high-profile controversies in cricket and debating the limits of gamesmanship. The moniker "Clicky Ponting" has become central to how the episode is being discussed online, serving both as ridicule and shorthand for the allegation. Amid the commentary, many have reiterated the sport’s traditional emphasis on fair play and respect for officials.
The viral clip has therefore become a focal point for conversation about conduct in the club game and the boundaries between competitive tactics and cheating. The North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League and those involved now face public scrutiny as the debate continues online.
