North Yorkshire cricket team under investigation following alleged cheating incident
Cricket cheating allegations surface in North Yorkshire
A cricket team in North Yorkshire is currently under investigation following accusations of cheating against one of its players. The allegations stem from a recent Division Two match where a fielder is accused of attempting to deceive umpires by clicking his fingers to mimic the sound of a ball hitting the bat, thereby suggesting a wicket.
Footage of the alleged incident, which occurred during a game between Saltburn Cricket Club and Norton Cricket Club on a Saturday, has gained significant traction online. The video, which shows a fielder at slip appearing to click his fingers as the ball passes an opponent’s bat, has been viewed millions of times across social media platforms.
The clip further depicts Saltburn’s wicketkeeper catching the ball behind the stumps, followed by an appeal to the umpire, who subsequently gives the batter out. This sequence of events has led to a formal complaint being lodged with the North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League.
League initiates full investigation
In response to the viral footage and the formal complaint, the North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League has announced that it has launched a full investigation into the matter. The league confirmed receiving a complaint regarding alleged incidents in the Division Two game on Saturday, 25 July 2026.
A statement from the league indicated that a full investigation has been initiated and that no further comment would be made until the formal processes are complete. The incident has been dubbed “Clicky Ponting” online, a reference to former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, and has sparked widespread debate within the cricket community.
Ben Mummery, who posted the video on social media, expressed his strong disapproval of the alleged actions, calling it “about the worst case of cheating I’ve ever seen in cricket.” He also noted that Saltburn’s wicketkeeper reportedly has a high number of catches this season. Mummery stated his satisfaction that the video went viral, believing it exposes the alleged behaviour.
The Saltburn team currently leads the Division Two league table, having won 10 of their 15 matches this season. Their wicketkeeper also reportedly leads the league in fielding dismissals, with 34, of which 31 were catches behind the stumps. In an earlier match against Shildon Railway Cricket Club in July, Saltburn secured a 22-run victory, with their wicketkeeper taking eight catches.
Previous allegations and wider context
This is not the first time such accusations have been made against the team. Rory Cotterill, captain of Middlesbrough CC’s 2nd XI, alleged that similar incidents occurred during a game between his side and Saltburn in June. He shared a video purportedly showing the same player clicking his fingers, with commenters describing it as scandalous. Middlesbrough CC’s 2nd XI suffered a 29-run defeat to Saltburn in that match.
The current situation in the North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League has drawn comparisons to other alleged cheating scandals in cricket history. One notable example is the Sandpapergate incident during a 2018 Test match between Australia and South Africa, where Australia’s Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera attempting to alter the ball with sandpaper.
Another instance involved former England Test cricketer Marcus Trescothick, who, in his autobiography, discussed consuming Murray Mints during games in 2005. He stated that certain sweets were known in county cricket to produce saliva that helped maintain the ball’s shine for longer, thereby enhancing its swing. Trescothick mentioned using up to 15 Murray Mints a day for this purpose, a practice interpreted by some as ball-tampering.
The league has confirmed that a full investigation has been initiated and that no further comment will be made until the formal processes are complete regarding the alleged incidents from Saturday, 25 July 2026.
Source: theguardian.com