Clicky Ponting Banned For Two Years As Saltburn CC

One finger click cost a club its league status. On October 26, 2026, an appeal hearing upheld Brian Devine’s two-year ban. The ruling also officially relegated Saltburn CC 2nd XI.[1][2][4]

July 2026: The Clicky Ponting Incident At Norton

The incident began with a few seconds of footage from a Saltburn 2nd XI fixture against Norton in July 2026. The clip appeared to show Devine, nicknamed “Clicky Ponting,” clicking his fingers as the ball passed the batter, imitating the sound of bat on ball.

The Norton batter was given out. No scorecard statistics or final result were reported.[2][3] Here’s the thing: club cricket has no DRS or Snicko, and often just one umpire at the bowler’s end. A well-timed click isn’t a prank; it’s evidence manufactured in real time. That’s why the England and Wales Cricket Board treated the clip as a disciplinary matter, not a dressing-room joke.

Why The Suspension Runs To September 2028

The ban reaches well beyond playing. Devine can’t play, coach, umpire, score or manage junior teams for two years, through September 29, 2028.[1][2] That breadth gives the sanction its real weight.

A playing ban sidelines someone for 24 months. This one also keeps Devine away from every touchline, scorebox and training session his club runs. Worth noting: the ruling is a disciplinary finding, not a completed match. No final score, venue detail or batting or bowling figures have been reported for the case.[3]

Two years, five roles: Devine’s sanction covers playing, coaching, umpiring, scoring and junior management.[1]

The October 26 Appeal And Saltburn’s Relegation

The appeal hearing ended on October 26, 2026, and was dismissed, so the sanction remains in place.[3][8] Saltburn CC was fined £300. Its 2nd XI was relegated and will begin the 2027 season with a 60-point deduction.[1][4]

Sanction	Detail
Player ban	Two years, through September 29, 2028[1]
Club fine	£300[1]
League status	2nd XI relegated from Division Two to Division Three[1]
2027 season	60-point deduction to start the campaign[1]
Knock-on effect	Middlesbrough CC 2nd XI retained its Division Two place[1]

Relegation from Division Two to Division Three of the North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League is the biggest consequence. Saltburn’s 2nd XI will have to make up the 60-point deficit next summer, before a single ball of 2027 is bowled. Middlesbrough CC 2nd XI kept its Division Two place.[1] For more detail, see BBC Sport.

What This Means For Club Cricket In India And Beyond

Can a two-year ban really deter a 2nd XI player chasing a Saturday wicket? The answer lies in the collateral damage. When one player’s actions bring a club relegation, a £300 fine and a 60-point deduction, dressing rooms have a stronger reason to police themselves than any disciplinary panel can provide.

The precedent matters for leagues everywhere, including India’s vast club and corporate cricket circuit. Umpires there are stretched thin, and stump microphones are absent.

FAQs

How long is Brian Devine banned for cricket?

Devine received a two-year ban that runs until September 29, 2028. He can’t play, coach, umpire, score or manage junior teams during the suspension.

What penalties did Saltburn CC face alongside the player ban?

Saltburn CC was fined £300, and its 2nd XI was relegated from Division Two to Division Three of the North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League. The team also starts the 2027 season with a 60-point deduction.

Was there an official match result for the July 2026 game involving the finger-click incident?

No. The incident led to a disciplinary ruling, not a standard match result. No final score, venue details or player statistics were recorded for the fixture against Norton CC.