Cricket club faces cheating allegations

By Arjun Nair / 28.07.2026

By Arjun Nair — 28 July 2026 — 3 min read

Cricket club faces cheating allegations

An amateur cricket match in England has become the focus of a significant controversy following accusations that a fielder used a finger-clicking sound to deceive an umpire into ruling a batter out. The incident, which has gained widespread attention online and is being referred to as “Clickgate” or “Clicky Ponting,” took place during a North Yorkshire and South Durham (NYSD) Cricket League Division Two match between Saltburn Cricket Club 2nd XI and Norton Cricket Club.

The dispute centres on the dismissal of Norton batter Noman Shabir. As the bowler delivered the ball, it passed near Shabir’s bat without appearing to make contact. At that moment, a Saltburn fielder positioned at first slip reportedly clicked his fingers, producing a sharp sound similar to a ball edging the bat. The wicketkeeper secured the catch, Saltburn players appealed, and the umpire, believing he heard an edge, gave the batter out. Shabir protested the decision, stating he had not touched the ball, but the umpire upheld his verdict.

A video of the incident quickly circulated on social media, with many viewers suggesting the finger click was a deliberate attempt to mislead the umpire. Saltburn won the game by 159 runs and currently leads Division Two.

Wider allegations and league investigation

The controversy extended beyond the viral video. Following the incident, cricket enthusiasts began examining Saltburn‘s statistics and previous matches. One statistic that drew attention was wicketkeeper Josh Bowes‘ record of catches in just matches, including catches in a single innings against Shildon Railway. For comparison, the world record for catches by a wicketkeeper in a men’s Test innings is seven, making this figure unusual enough to prompt further speculation, though the statistic alone does not confirm wrongdoing.

Subsequently, Rory Cotterill, captain of Middlesbrough Second XI, publicly claimed his team experienced two similar finger-clicking incidents during a defeat to Saltburn earlier in the season. Another video from a separate match against Wolviston FC has also surfaced online, showing a batter being dismissed under comparable circumstances, intensifying the scrutiny on the club.

The North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League has confirmed receiving a formal complaint and has initiated an investigation. In a statement, the league said: “The league have received a formal complaint regarding alleged incidents in a Division Two game on Saturday. A full investigation has been initiated and until such time as the formal processes are complete no further comment will be made.”

The unusual incident has garnered international attention. The original video has been viewed over five million times on X (formerly Twitter), leading to debates among cricket fans worldwide about whether the dismissal should stand. Former television presenter Piers Morgan also commented, describing the player involved as the “biggest cheat in cricket history,” which further amplified the online discussion.

The incident has drawn comparisons to past cricket controversies, such as “Sandpapergate” in 2018, where Australia‘s Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera attempting to alter the ball with sandpaper during a Test match. Another instance involved former England Test cricketer Marcus Trescothick, who wrote in his autobiography about using Murray Mints during games in 2005 to help retain the shine on balls.

The league’s investigation will determine any potential disciplinary actions, which could range from player suspensions to points deductions or relegation for the club. For now, no player or club has been found guilty of wrongdoing, and the outcome will depend on the findings of the league’s formal process.

The North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League stated that the formal complaint concerned alleged incidents in a Division Two game on Saturday.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com