NEW DELHI: English club cricketer Brian Devine, popularly known as “Clicky Ponting”, has received a two-year ban from cricket following a cheating scandal that attracted worldwide attention.The 38-year-old became infamous earlier this year after a video showed him clicking his fingers as the ball passed an opposing batter, seemingly trying to make it sound like an edge.The incident went viral on social media and drew criticism from cricket experts and fans. Devine was initially suspended by his club while officials investigated the matter.According to British media reports, his punishment includes a ban from playing, coaching, umpiring, scoring and managing junior teams.
Club also faces heavy punishment
The action has also affected Saltburn Cricket Club’s second XI, which was leading the North Yorkshire and South Durham League before the controversy.The team has been automatically moved down to the third division and will begin the next season with a 60-point deduction, making promotion extremely difficult.For comparison, former Australia captains Steve Smith and David Warner received 12-month bans for their involvement in the 2018 ball-tampering scandal.Saltburn CC accepted the appeal decision and said, “The club fully participated in the disciplinary proceedings and accepts the decision of the appeal following the original decision from the League. We are now focusing on preparations for the 2027 season.”
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Experts divided over controversy
The incident attracted criticism from several public figures, including Piers Morgan. However, Sam Perry and Ian Higgins of The Grade Cricketer felt the reaction to an amateur cricketer’s actions had become excessive.“For over a decade we have celebrated and benefited from the low-rent charm of club cricket’s rich, dark underbelly, alongside hundreds of thousands of people around the world”, they said.They also questioned the scale of the backlash, saying: “Of course, it would appear some members at Saltburn CC have engaged in comically sharp practice. But sadly, when f—wits like Piers Morgan declare to millions that ‘Clicky Ponting must be the biggest cheat in cricket history’, all proportionality is lost, and we feel a brotherly obligation to support the club in that context.”
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