Brian Devine, 38, has been handed a two-year ban from all forms of cricket following a cheating scandal that gripped English club cricket over the summer. His team, Saltburn CC's 2nd XI, has been relegated to a lower division, and the club has been fined £300 by the England and Wales Cricket Board.
According to The Guardian, the disciplinary sanctions were announced on Friday following an investigation into the incident that sparked global attention in July 2026.
Devine earned widespread online notoriety after footage from a Division Two match in the North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League went viral in late July. The video appeared to show him mimicking a cricket ball striking the bat by clicking his fingers, successfully deceiving the umpire into awarding a catch to Norton CC's batter. The incident earned him the nickname "Clicky Ponting" – a reference to former Australia captain Ricky Ponting – and triggered both ridicule and outrage across social media.
According to the Telegraph, the viral footage showed Norton batter Noman Shabir given out caught behind, with wicketkeeper Josh Bowes taking the catch and Sam Morrison bowling. The footage was originally posted to X by Durham-based amateur cricketer Ben Mummery, who described it as among the worst cheating he had seen.
Following the initial incident, Saltburn CC provisionally suspended Devine for the remainder of the 2026 season while the league undertook a formal investigation. Additional examples of the practice subsequently emerged and circulated widely online, intensifying scrutiny of both the player and the club.
How did the disciplinary process unfold?
The league's three-person disciplinary panel conducted a thorough review involving player interviews, written statements, and detailed analysis of the footage. Both Devine and Saltburn CC ultimately accepted misconduct charges brought against them.
The disciplinary appeal process concluded on October 26, according to local reporting. Devine's ban runs from September 30, 2026, through September 29, 2028, covering all forms of involvement in cricket including playing, coaching, umpiring, scoring and managing junior teams.
What penalties did Saltburn CC face?
After appealing their original sanction, Saltburn CC received a £300 fine from the North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League. The club's 2nd XI has been relegated to Division Three, a significant demotion from their previous Division Two status. Additionally, the 2nd XI will begin the 2027 season with a 60-point deduction, a substantial handicap that will affect their competitive standing from the outset.
The relegation decision meant that Middlesbrough CC, who had previously been relegated, retained their place in Division Two as a consequence of Saltburn's demotion.
How have the organisations responded?
The North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League issued a statement acknowledging the broader impact of the scandal.
The League recognises the strain this has placed on many people, especially those who were abused online and in person. We ask everyone to respect that the formal process is now complete.
Saltburn CC released its own statement accepting the outcome.
The club fully participated in the disciplinary proceedings and accept the decision of the appeal following the original decision from the League. We are now focussing on preparations for the 2027 season.
The club's statement reflected an effort to move forward after months of negative attention and the reputational damage caused by the incident and its viral spread across global media platforms.
Key Facts
- Brian Devine banned from all cricket until September 29, 2028, covering playing, coaching, umpiring, scoring and managing junior teams
- Saltburn CC's 2nd XI relegated to Division Three with a 60-point deduction for the 2027 season
- The club fined £300 by the England and Wales Cricket Board following a disciplinary appeal
- The incident occurred in July 2026 during a Division Two match against Norton CC and sparked international media coverage
- The disciplinary appeal process concluded on October 26, 2026
