Saltburn’s ‘Clicky Ponting’ controversy sparks season‑long suspension

In the waning minutes of Saltburn Cricket Club’s second‑XI clash against Norton on Monday evening, a fielder’s sudden finger‑click – dubbed the ‘Clicky Ponting’ – echoed as the ball slipped past batter Noman Shabir, prompting an immediate out and a viral video that would soon dominate the sport’s headlines.

A video posted Monday shows the Saltburn Cricket Club fielder allegedly using the ‘Clicky Ponting’ finger‑click to influence a caught‑behind wicket, leading the club to suspend the player on Wednesday and bar him from playing for the foreseeable future.

On Wednesday the club issued a statement confirming the player will not appear again “for the foreseeable future” while the investigation proceeds, emphasizing that the suspension applies for the remainder of the season.

The alleged cheating method involved the fielder clicking his fingers as the ball passed the batter, a tactic claimed to distract the batter and sway the umpire’s decision.

The incident was captured in a video from Saltburn’s second‑XI match against Norton in Division Two; the clip shows the fielder clicking his fingers just as the ball flew past Norton batter Noman Shabir before being caught by wicketkeeper Josh Bowes, after which the umpire gave Shabir out.

The North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League has launched an investigation, with league officials reviewing the video and the match officials’ reports.

Saltburn’s statement said the club is treating the allegation with the utmost seriousness and is fully cooperating with the league’s inquiry, adding that officials acted decisively as soon as the complaint became known.

At the time of the incident Saltburn sat 17 points clear at the top of Division Two, having won the match by 159 runs, a performance that bolstered the team’s promotion hopes.

Following the controversy the club announced it will not field its second‑team against Marton on Wednesday, opting to concede the cup match, and will make no further comment until the investigation concludes.

The video has amassed over 7.5 million views on X, drawing condemnation from several celebrities and intensifying pressure on both the club and the league.