Cricket ‘Clickgate’ Scandal: Finger-Clicking Accusation Rocks English Club Cricket

By Sanjay Menon — 28 July 2026 — 3 min read

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. The incident, which has gained widespread attention online, is being referred to as “Clickgate” or “Clicky Ponting”. It reportedly 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 controversy centres on the dismissal of Norton batter Noman Shabir. As the bowler delivered the ball, it passed close to Shabir’s bat without appearing to make contact. At that moment, a Saltburn fielder at first slip allegedly clicked his fingers, producing a sound similar to a ball edging the bat. The wicketkeeper caught the ball, Saltburn’s players appealed, and the umpire, believing he heard an edge, gave the batter out. Shabir reportedly protested the decision, stating he had not touched the ball, but the umpire upheld his verdict.

A video of the event quickly circulated on social media, with many viewers suggesting the finger click was a deliberate attempt to mislead the umpire. Saltburn won the match by 159 runs and currently leads Division Two by 18 points.

Wider Allegations Emerge

The initial viral video led to further scrutiny. Cricket fans began examining Saltburn’s statistics and past matches. One statistic that drew attention was wicketkeeper Josh Bowes’ record of 31 catches in just eight matches, including eight catches in a single innings against Shildon Railway. This figure is considered unusual, especially when compared to the world record for catches by a wicketkeeper in a men’s Test innings, which stands at seven. While this statistic alone does not prove wrongdoing, it has contributed to the speculation surrounding the club.

Following this, Rory Cotterill, captain of Middlesbrough Second XI, publicly claimed his team had experienced two similar finger-clicking incidents during a loss to Saltburn earlier in the season. Another video from a different match against Wolviston FC has also surfaced online, showing a batter being dismissed under comparable circumstances, intensifying the examination of the club’s practices.

Ben Mummery, who posted the initial video on social media, expressed his satisfaction that the footage had gone viral, stating it was “about the worst case of cheating I’ve ever seen in cricket.” He also noted the wicketkeeper’s high number of catches this season. Piers Morgan, a former newspaper editor and television presenter, also commented on the incident, labelling the player involved as the “biggest cheat in cricket history.”

League Launches Investigation

The North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League has confirmed that it has received a formal complaint and has initiated an investigation into the alleged incidents. In a statement, the league indicated that a full investigation is underway and no further comments would be made until the formal processes are completed.

The unusual incident has garnered international attention, with the original video being viewed over five million times on X (formerly Twitter). Cricket fans globally have engaged in debates regarding the validity of the dismissal. The allegations have prompted calls for various disciplinary actions, including player suspensions and points deductions, though no wrongdoing has been established yet.

The controversy also brings to mind other alleged cheating scandals in cricket history, such as “Sandpapergate” in a 2018 Test match where Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera attempting to alter the ball with sandpaper. Additionally, England Test cricketer Marcus Trescothick mentioned in his autobiography using Murray Mints during games in 2005 to help maintain the shine on cricket balls.

Some livestreams of Saltburn matches reportedly appear to have been removed since the controversy emerged.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com