A Saltburn Cricket Club player humorously dubbed “Clicky Ponting” has been suspended after he was accused of cheating in a local league match by tapping his fingers to make the sound of a batsman hitting the ball. The incident, which took place during Saltburn’s second win over Norton, went viral on social media as footage appeared to show the fielder making a sound before the wicketkeeper had completed the catch. The umpire ruled the batsman out, sparking widespread criticism online.Responding to the controversy, English side Saltburn Cricket Club said they were taking the allegations seriously and had suspended the player pending an investigation.“We are taking this allegation with the utmost seriousness and as a family-focused club we are fully cooperating with the New York State League’s investigation,” the club said in a statement.“The player at the center of the complaint has been suspended and will not play for the club again this season or for the foreseeable future, pending the outcome of the investigation,” the statement added.Saltburn also withdrew from a second-team cup tie with Marton as the investigation continued. Club officials have spoken to league representatives and say the current situation is difficult for everyone involved.They added: “This has been a very traumatic and stressful experience for everyone involved and we ask that everyone remembers this reality and respects personal boundaries as we are an amateur club run entirely by volunteers.”The viral clip has now been viewed more than 7.5 million times on X, with some high-profile figures criticizing the alleged behavior.
