🔥 Trending The 'Clicky Ponting' Cheating Scandal in Cricket Explained

The cricketer at the center of the "Clicky Ponting" scandal is Brian Devine ⁴⁵.

Who is Brian Devine?

Brian Devine is a veteran club cricketer who plays in the North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League in England ⁴⁵⁸. He is a slip fielder for Saltburn Cricket Club's 2nd XI ⁴⁸.

What is the "Clicky Ponting" Scandal?

The "Clicky Ponting" scandal refers to an incident that occurred during a Division Two match on July 25, 2026 ⁸. Devine is accused of repeatedly clicking his fingers to imitate the sound of a bat hitting the ball (a "snick" or "edge") in an attempt to deceive umpires into giving batsmen out caught behind ²⁷⁸⁹.

The incident gained widespread attention after a video of Devine's actions went viral online ⁴⁶⁹. The nickname "Clicky Ponting" was coined by outraged cricket fans and the English press ⁴⁵⁶. It is a sarcastic reference to former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, known for his aggressive, "win-at-all-costs" approach to cricket ¹⁴⁵. The scandal has also been dubbed "clickgate" ².

Impact and Aftermath

The controversy has sparked outrage among cricket fans globally ⁴⁶. The North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League is investigating the incident ²⁷. Saltburn Cricket Club has faced scrutiny, and one of their sponsors, an Indian restaurant, reportedly removed its sponsorship following the scandal ⁴⁶. There have also been allegations from other teams, such as Middlesbrough, that they experienced similar incidents in June 2026 ¹⁰.