The ball is bowled, the batter plays a shot, and the wicketkeeper takes the catch. The crowd cheers, but the batter stands bewildered. Did he nick it? Or did a fielder click his fingers to fake the sound of an edge? That is the question at the heart of a scandal that has engulfed English club cricket, after footage went viral of an alleged cheating incident in the North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League.
In a Division Two match between Saltburn 2nd XI and Norton 2nd XI on 25 July 2026, a Saltburn fielder was captured on video apparently clicking his fingers as the ball passed the bat of Norton batter Noman Shabir. The umpire gave Shabir out caught behind, and his protests were ignored. The footage, posted by Ben Mummery, has been shared more than 3 million times and branded “the worst case of cheating I’ve ever seen in cricket”. The incident has been nicknamed “Clicky Ponting”, a play on the name of former Australian captain Ricky Ponting.
“A viral cheating incident in a North Yorkshire league raises questions about sportsmanship in amateur cricket.”
Cheating in cricket is not new. The sport’s most infamous scandal, “Sandpapergate”, saw Australian players caught tampering with the ball during a 2018 Test against South Africa, leading to lengthy bans and widespread condemnation. But that was at the professional level, where the stakes are high and scrutiny is intense. At the amateur level, cricket has long prided itself on the “spirit of the game” — a code of conduct that relies on honest play and mutual respect, often enforced by players themselves.
For UK readers who play or follow grassroots cricket, this scandal hits home. Club cricket is the backbone of the sport in England, with thousands of teams competing every weekend. The idea that a player would deliberately deceive an umpire undermines the trust that makes amateur sport possible. Many have expressed shock that such behaviour could occur in a local league match. Ben Mummery, who posted the video, said: “I’m genuinely really happy it’s being exposed. Harshest possible punishment please. It’s not cricket.”
The North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League has launched a full investigation and has received a formal complaint. Saltburn won the match by 159 runs and top Division Two by 17 points. But the controversy does not end there. Rory Cotterill, captain of Middlesbrough CC’s 2nd XI, has claimed a similar incident happened during his team’s defeat to Saltburn in June, sharing a video that allegedly shows the same player clicking his fingers. The club has been approached for comment but has not yet responded.
Q: What exactly is “Clicky Ponting”? “Clicky Ponting” is a nickname for a cheating technique where a fielder clicks his fingers to mimic the sound of the ball hitting the bat, tricking the umpire into thinking the batter has edged the ball. The term is a play on “Ricky Ponting”, the former Australian captain, and echoes “Sandpapergate”.
Q: How common is cheating in amateur cricket? Cheating in amateur cricket is rare but not unheard of. Most incidents involve disputes over catches, LBW decisions or run-outs. However, deliberate deception like clicking fingers is considered highly unusual and has shocked the cricket community. The viral nature of this case has prompted many to question whether similar tricks have gone undetected.
Q: What punishment could the player face? The league’s investigation is ongoing. Depending on the findings, the player could face a suspension or a ban from the league. The club could also face penalties, such as forfeiture of points or fines. The matter has also drawn attention from national media, which could increase pressure for a strong sanction.
What happens next depends on the league’s investigation. No further comment has been made until the formal process is complete. The viral footage has already had a global impact, with coverage in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the USA. For now, the cricket world watches to see how the North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League will respond — and whether this scandal will force a wider conversation about honesty in the amateur game.