‘Clicky Ponting’ cheating row: Saltburn Cricket Club suspends player, calls the incident ‘very distressing’ | Cricket News
Saltburn Cricket Club have suspended a player, humorously called “Clicky Ponting”, after he was accused of cheating during a local league match by clicking his fingers to make it sound like the batter had edged the ball. The incident, which happened during Saltburn’s second XI win over Norton, went viral on social media after video footage appeared to show the fielder making the sound just before the wicketkeeper completed the catch. The umpire gave the batter out, sparking widespread criticism online.Responding to the controversy, Saltburn Cricket Club, an English outfit, said they were taking the allegations seriously and had suspended the player while an investigation is underway.In a statement, the club said, “We are treating this allegation with the utmost seriousness and, as a family-centric club, we are fully cooperating with the NYS League’s investigation.”The statement added, “The player at the centre of the complaint has been suspended and will not play again for the club this season or in the foreseeable future, pending the outcome of this investigation.”Saltburn have also withdrawn from their second-team cup match against Marton as the investigation continues. Club officials have already spoken with league representatives and said the situation has been difficult for everyone involved.They added, “This has been a very distressing and stressful experience for all those concerned, and we would ask that this reality is borne in mind and that personal boundaries are respected, as we are an amateur club entirely run by volunteers.”The viral clip has now been viewed more than 7.5 million times on X, with several well-known figures criticising the alleged act.
