Cricket league investigates alleged cheating
An amateur cricket team in North Yorkshire is currently under investigation following accusations of cheating. The allegations centre on a player who is said to have clicked his fingers to mimic the sound of a ball hitting the bat, potentially influencing umpires to award wickets. The North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League has initiated a full investigation into a formal complaint received regarding incidents during a recent Division Two match.
The controversy emerged after footage from a game between Saltburn 2nd XI and Norton 2nd XI on Saturday, 25 July 2026, went viral on social media. The video, which has been viewed millions of times, reportedly shows a fielder at slip appearing to click his fingers as the ball passes the batter. This action is alleged to have been an attempt to deceive the umpire into believing the ball had edged the bat before being caught by the wicketkeeper.
In the clip, the Saltburn wicketkeeper is seen catching the ball behind the stumps, after which the team appeals. The umpire subsequently gives the batter out. The batter appears visibly confused and protests the decision as Saltburn players celebrate. Ben Mummery, who shared the video online, described it as one of the most significant instances of cheating he had witnessed in cricket. He expressed satisfaction that the video gained widespread attention, stating his hope for the harshest possible punishment.
Previous incidents and wider context
The incident has been dubbed “Clicky Ponting” online, a reference to former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, and “clickgate.” This term draws parallels to other notable cricket controversies, such as the Sandpapergate scandal in 2018, where Australia’s Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera attempting to alter the ball with sandpaper during a Test match against South Africa.
The current investigation by the North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League follows a formal complaint. League authorities have stated that no further comment will be made until the formal processes are concluded. The league’s statement confirmed that a full investigation has been initiated into alleged incidents during a Division Two game on Saturday.
The viral footage has prompted online users to examine previous Saltburn scorecards. Rory Cotterill, captain of Middlesbrough CC’s 2nd XI, claimed that similar incidents occurred during a match his team played against Saltburn in June. He shared a video that he alleged showed the same player clicking his fingers, with commenters describing it as scandalous. Middlesbrough suffered a 29-run defeat to Saltburn in that June fixture.
Team performance and player statistics
Saltburn currently leads the Division Two league table, having secured victory in 10 of their 15 matches this season. The team won the game in question by 159 runs and holds a 17-point lead at the top of the division. The club’s wicketkeeper is also noted for leading the league in fielding dismissals, with a total of 34, of which 31 were catches behind the stumps.
Earlier in July, Saltburn achieved a 22-run victory against Shildon Railway Cricket Club, a match where their wicketkeeper reportedly took eight catches. The club has been approached for comment regarding the ongoing investigation. The league has confirmed that a full investigation has been initiated into the alleged incidents from the match on Saturday, 25 July 2026.
Source: theguardian.com
Dominic Hayes is the Sports News Writer at NewsGB, covering rugby union, golf and boxing with five years of reporting experience. He started on a north-east sports desk. He holds a degree in Journalism from Teesside University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Middlesbrough, he follows pro golf and amateur boxing. “Fast and accurate is the only standard worth keeping.”
