{"id":255219,"date":"2026-07-29T14:41:46","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T14:41:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/29\/saltburn-are-the-argentina-of-local-cricket-victims-and-neighbours-on-the-clicky-ponting-scandal\/"},"modified":"2026-07-29T14:41:46","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T14:41:46","slug":"saltburn-are-the-argentina-of-local-cricket-victims-and-neighbours-on-the-clicky-ponting-scandal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/29\/saltburn-are-the-argentina-of-local-cricket-victims-and-neighbours-on-the-clicky-ponting-scandal\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Saltburn are the Argentina of local cricket\u2019: victims and neighbours on the \u2018Clicky Ponting\u2019 scandal"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><span style=\"color:var(--drop-cap);font-weight:500\" class=\"dcr-1iwzucl\">A<\/span>t the Saltburn over-60s ukulele club there was a unanimous reaction to news that the town\u2019s cricket club were being compared to the Argentina football team: laughter. Then a spirited rendition of I Love to Boogie.<\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-1symy40\"><gu-island name=\"SelfHostedVideo\" priority=\"critical\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;atomId&quot;:&quot;eedbea16-8f8c-4b70-9911-6db49e6cfdd6&quot;,&quot;fallbackImage&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/media.guim.co.uk\/476fad260bd12e63dd9f36153de0421de493809e\/0_0_1920_1080\/1000.jpg&quot;,&quot;fallbackImageAlt&quot;:&quot;Saltburn over-60s ukulele perform rendition of I Love to Boogie \u2013 video&quot;,&quot;fallbackImageAspectRatio&quot;:&quot;16:9&quot;,&quot;fallbackImageLoading&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;,&quot;fallbackImageSize&quot;:&quot;small&quot;,&quot;aspectRatio&quot;:1.778,&quot;linkTo&quot;:&quot;Article-embed-MediaAtomBlockElement&quot;,&quot;posterImage&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/media.guim.co.uk\/476fad260bd12e63dd9f36153de0421de493809e\/0_0_1920_1080\/1000.jpg&quot;,&quot;posterImageAspectRatio&quot;:&quot;16:9&quot;,&quot;sources&quot;:[{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/uploads.guim.co.uk\/2026\/07\/29\/Saltburn_over-60s_ukulele_perform_a_rendition_of_I_Love_to_Boogie___video_--eedbea16-8f8c-4b70-9911-6db49e6cfdd6-1.0.m3u8&quot;,&quot;mimeType&quot;:&quot;application\/vnd.apple.mpegurl&quot;,&quot;height&quot;:0,&quot;width&quot;:0,&quot;aspectRatio&quot;:&quot;16:9&quot;,&quot;hasAudio&quot;:true},{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/uploads.guim.co.uk\/2026\/07\/29\/Saltburn_over-60s_ukulele_perform_a_rendition_of_I_Love_to_Boogie___video_--eedbea16-8f8c-4b70-9911-6db49e6cfdd6-1.0_480w_q8.mp4&quot;,&quot;mimeType&quot;:&quot;video\/mp4&quot;,&quot;height&quot;:270,&quot;width&quot;:480,&quot;aspectRatio&quot;:&quot;16:9&quot;,&quot;hasAudio&quot;:true},{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/uploads.guim.co.uk\/2026\/07\/29\/Saltburn_over-60s_ukulele_perform_a_rendition_of_I_Love_to_Boogie___video_--eedbea16-8f8c-4b70-9911-6db49e6cfdd6-1.0_720h_q8.mp4&quot;,&quot;mimeType&quot;:&quot;video\/mp4&quot;,&quot;height&quot;:720,&quot;width&quot;:1280,&quot;aspectRatio&quot;:&quot;16:9&quot;,&quot;hasAudio&quot;:true}],&quot;subtitleSize&quot;:&quot;medium&quot;,&quot;subtitleSource&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/uploads.guim.co.uk\/2026\/07\/29\/Saltburn_over-60s_ukulele_perform_a_rendition_of_I_Love_to_Boogie___video_--eedbea16-8f8c-4b70-9911-6db49e6cfdd6-1.0.vtt&quot;,&quot;videoStyle&quot;:&quot;Default&quot;,&quot;uniqueId&quot;:&quot;eedbea16-8f8c-4b70-9911-6db49e6cfdd6&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Saltburn over-60s ukulele perform rendition of I Love to Boogie \u2013 video&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:10,&quot;display&quot;:2,&quot;theme&quot;:0},&quot;isMainMedia&quot;:false,&quot;role&quot;:&quot;inline&quot;,&quot;preventAutoplay&quot;:true,&quot;restrictHeightOnDesktop&quot;:false}\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"video-container default \" data-component=\"gu-video-loop\">\n<div class=\"dcr-uihurj\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1m90p6x\"><video id=\"video-eedbea16-8f8c-4b70-9911-6db49e6cfdd6\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\" tabindex=\"0\" data-testid=\"self-hosted-video-player\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" preload=\"none\" playsinline=\"\" disablepictureinpicture=\"\" class=\"dcr-1520h1u\"><track kind=\"subtitles\" src=\"https:\/\/uploads.guim.co.uk\/2026\/07\/29\/Saltburn_over-60s_ukulele_perform_a_rendition_of_I_Love_to_Boogie___video_--eedbea16-8f8c-4b70-9911-6db49e6cfdd6-1.0.vtt\" srclang=\"en\"\/><picture data-size=\"small\" class=\"dcr-5b30ks\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/476fad260bd12e63dd9f36153de0421de493809e\/0_0_1920_1080\/1000.jpg?width=220&amp;dpr=2&amp;s=none&amp;crop=16%3A9\" media=\"(min-width: 980px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 980px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/476fad260bd12e63dd9f36153de0421de493809e\/0_0_1920_1080\/1000.jpg?width=220&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=16%3A9\" media=\"(min-width: 980px)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/476fad260bd12e63dd9f36153de0421de493809e\/0_0_1920_1080\/1000.jpg?width=160&amp;dpr=2&amp;s=none&amp;crop=16%3A9\" media=\"(min-width: 740px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 740px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/476fad260bd12e63dd9f36153de0421de493809e\/0_0_1920_1080\/1000.jpg?width=160&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=16%3A9\" media=\"(min-width: 740px)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/476fad260bd12e63dd9f36153de0421de493809e\/0_0_1920_1080\/1000.jpg?width=120&amp;dpr=2&amp;s=none&amp;crop=16%3A9\" media=\"(min-width: 320px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 320px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/476fad260bd12e63dd9f36153de0421de493809e\/0_0_1920_1080\/1000.jpg?width=120&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=16%3A9\" media=\"(min-width: 320px)\"\/><\/picture><\/video><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-174mzkf\"><span class=\"dcr-1hnminq\"><svg width=\"36\" height=\"23\" viewbox=\"0 0 36 23\"><path d=\"M3.2 0l-3.2 3.3v16.4l3.3 3.3h18.7v-23h-18.8m30.4 1l-8.6 8v5l8.6 8h2.4v-21h-2.4\"\/><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">Saltburn over-60s ukulele perform rendition of I Love to Boogie \u2013 video<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><\/gu-island><\/div>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">On the seafront, a litter-picking volunteer was looking forward to the Wednesday night quiz just to get the gossip. But she had her own view. \u201cAll I would say is it\u2019s just not cricket, is it?\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Bill Peters, a retired steelworker on a day out from Middlesbrough with his wife, Janet, reflected on what would have happened in St Lucia where he played cricket growing up. \u201cThere would have been a big fight,\u201d he said slowly and purposefully.<\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-1symy40\"><gu-island name=\"SelfHostedVideo\" priority=\"critical\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;atomId&quot;:&quot;30e617d4-d4fd-40d8-806a-d7b6a53a94a3&quot;,&quot;fallbackImage&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/uploads.guim.co.uk\/2026\/07\/28\/Cricket_player_seems_to_show_fielder_tricking_umpire_by_clicking_to_imitate_edges--30e617d4-d4fd-40d8-806a-d7b6a53a94a3-2.0.0000000.jpg&quot;,&quot;fallbackImageAlt&quot;:&quot;Cricket player seems to show fielder tricking umpire by clicking to imitate edges&quot;,&quot;fallbackImageAspectRatio&quot;:&quot;5:4&quot;,&quot;fallbackImageLoading&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;,&quot;fallbackImageSize&quot;:&quot;small&quot;,&quot;aspectRatio&quot;:1.25,&quot;linkTo&quot;:&quot;Article-embed-MediaAtomBlockElement&quot;,&quot;posterImage&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/uploads.guim.co.uk\/2026\/07\/28\/Cricket_player_seems_to_show_fielder_tricking_umpire_by_clicking_to_imitate_edges--30e617d4-d4fd-40d8-806a-d7b6a53a94a3-2.0.0000000.jpg&quot;,&quot;posterImageAspectRatio&quot;:&quot;5:4&quot;,&quot;sources&quot;:[{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/uploads.guim.co.uk\/2026\/07\/28\/Cricket_player_seems_to_show_fielder_tricking_umpire_by_clicking_to_imitate_edges--30e617d4-d4fd-40d8-806a-d7b6a53a94a3-2.0_480w_q8.mp4&quot;,&quot;mimeType&quot;:&quot;video\/mp4&quot;,&quot;height&quot;:384,&quot;width&quot;:480,&quot;aspectRatio&quot;:&quot;5:4&quot;,&quot;hasAudio&quot;:true},{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/uploads.guim.co.uk\/2026\/07\/28\/Cricket_player_seems_to_show_fielder_tricking_umpire_by_clicking_to_imitate_edges--30e617d4-d4fd-40d8-806a-d7b6a53a94a3-2.0_720h_q8.mp4&quot;,&quot;mimeType&quot;:&quot;video\/mp4&quot;,&quot;height&quot;:720,&quot;width&quot;:900,&quot;aspectRatio&quot;:&quot;5:4&quot;,&quot;hasAudio&quot;:true},{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/uploads.guim.co.uk\/2026\/07\/28\/Cricket_player_seems_to_show_fielder_tricking_umpire_by_clicking_to_imitate_edges--30e617d4-d4fd-40d8-806a-d7b6a53a94a3-2.0.m3u8&quot;,&quot;mimeType&quot;:&quot;application\/vnd.apple.mpegurl&quot;,&quot;height&quot;:0,&quot;width&quot;:0,&quot;aspectRatio&quot;:&quot;5:4&quot;,&quot;hasAudio&quot;:true}],&quot;subtitleSize&quot;:&quot;medium&quot;,&quot;subtitleSource&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/uploads.guim.co.uk\/2026\/07\/28\/Cricket_player_seems_to_show_fielder_tricking_umpire_by_clicking_to_imitate_edges--30e617d4-d4fd-40d8-806a-d7b6a53a94a3-2.0.vtt&quot;,&quot;videoStyle&quot;:&quot;Loop&quot;,&quot;uniqueId&quot;:&quot;30e617d4-d4fd-40d8-806a-d7b6a53a94a3&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Cricket player seems to show fielder tricking umpire by clicking to imitate edges&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:10,&quot;display&quot;:2,&quot;theme&quot;:0},&quot;isMainMedia&quot;:false,&quot;role&quot;:&quot;inline&quot;,&quot;preventAutoplay&quot;:false,&quot;restrictHeightOnDesktop&quot;:false}\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"video-container loop \" data-component=\"gu-video-loop\">\n<div class=\"dcr-13f279v\">\n<div class=\"dcr-179wty7\"><video id=\"video-30e617d4-d4fd-40d8-806a-d7b6a53a94a3\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\" tabindex=\"0\" data-testid=\"self-hosted-video-player\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" preload=\"none\" loop=\"\" muted=\"\" playsinline=\"\" disablepictureinpicture=\"\" class=\"dcr-9xh1ht\"><track kind=\"subtitles\" src=\"https:\/\/uploads.guim.co.uk\/2026\/07\/28\/Cricket_player_seems_to_show_fielder_tricking_umpire_by_clicking_to_imitate_edges--30e617d4-d4fd-40d8-806a-d7b6a53a94a3-2.0.vtt\" srclang=\"en\"\/><picture data-size=\"small\" class=\"dcr-1b8y165\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2026\/07\/28\/Cricket_player_seems_to_show_fielder_tricking_umpire_by_clicking_to_imitate_edges--30e617d4-d4fd-40d8-806a-d7b6a53a94a3-2.0.0000000.jpg?width=220&amp;dpr=2&amp;s=none&amp;crop=5%3A4\" media=\"(min-width: 980px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 980px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2026\/07\/28\/Cricket_player_seems_to_show_fielder_tricking_umpire_by_clicking_to_imitate_edges--30e617d4-d4fd-40d8-806a-d7b6a53a94a3-2.0.0000000.jpg?width=220&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=5%3A4\" media=\"(min-width: 980px)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2026\/07\/28\/Cricket_player_seems_to_show_fielder_tricking_umpire_by_clicking_to_imitate_edges--30e617d4-d4fd-40d8-806a-d7b6a53a94a3-2.0.0000000.jpg?width=160&amp;dpr=2&amp;s=none&amp;crop=5%3A4\" media=\"(min-width: 740px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 740px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2026\/07\/28\/Cricket_player_seems_to_show_fielder_tricking_umpire_by_clicking_to_imitate_edges--30e617d4-d4fd-40d8-806a-d7b6a53a94a3-2.0.0000000.jpg?width=160&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=5%3A4\" media=\"(min-width: 740px)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2026\/07\/28\/Cricket_player_seems_to_show_fielder_tricking_umpire_by_clicking_to_imitate_edges--30e617d4-d4fd-40d8-806a-d7b6a53a94a3-2.0.0000000.jpg?width=120&amp;dpr=2&amp;s=none&amp;crop=5%3A4\" media=\"(min-width: 320px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 320px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2026\/07\/28\/Cricket_player_seems_to_show_fielder_tricking_umpire_by_clicking_to_imitate_edges--30e617d4-d4fd-40d8-806a-d7b6a53a94a3-2.0.0000000.jpg?width=120&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=5%3A4\" media=\"(min-width: 320px)\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Cricket player seems to show fielder tricking umpire by clicking to imitate edges\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2026\/07\/28\/Cricket_player_seems_to_show_fielder_tricking_umpire_by_clicking_to_imitate_edges--30e617d4-d4fd-40d8-806a-d7b6a53a94a3-2.0.0000000.jpg?width=120&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=5%3A4\" loading=\"lazy\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" class=\"dcr-11wzo8p\"\/><\/picture><\/video><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-174mzkf\"><span class=\"dcr-1hnminq\"><svg width=\"36\" height=\"23\" viewbox=\"0 0 36 23\"><path d=\"M3.2 0l-3.2 3.3v16.4l3.3 3.3h18.7v-23h-18.8m30.4 1l-8.6 8v5l8.6 8h2.4v-21h-2.4\"\/><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">Cricket player seems to show fielder tricking umpire by clicking to imitate edges<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><\/gu-island><\/div>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Saltburn-by-the-Sea is a lovely Victorian town in north-east <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/uk-news\/england\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">England<\/a> whose usual claim to fame is the cliff lift, the oldest water-balanced funicular still in operation in Great Britain, although currently out of operation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">This week it has become <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/2026\/jul\/28\/cricket-cheating-row-clicky-ponting-dupe-umpire-saltburn\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the centre of a cheating story<\/a> that has made headlines all over the world.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">It began after a video was posted online of Saturday\u2019s game between Saltburn second XI and Norton second XI.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The video appeared to show a fielder clicking his fingers as the batter swings for the ball. The fielder has been accused of trying to trick the umpire into thinking the ball clipped the edge of the bat before being caught.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RejectedBook\/status\/2081798191217889781\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" target=\"_blank\">bemused batter can be seen protesting to the umpire<\/a> as Saltburn players celebrate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">It has been called \u2018Clickgate\u2019 and the fielder dubbed \u2018Clicky Ponting\u2019, although his name is Brian.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Ponting, a former Australian cricket captain, is, it should be emphasised, entirely blameless and not a character in the affair beyond his name Ricky rhyming with Clicky.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"0dbfa760-cfc7-40f5-93e6-128de443e49d\" data-spacefinder-role=\"showcase\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-46nkfa\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1ci1e33\"><span class=\"dcr-vyhg7z\"><svg width=\"18\" height=\"13\" viewbox=\"0 0 18 13\"><path d=\"M18 3.5v8l-1.5 1.5h-15l-1.5-1.5v-8l1.5-1.5h3.5l2-2h4l2 2h3.5l1.5 1.5zm-9 7.5c1.9 0 3.5-1.6 3.5-3.5s-1.6-3.5-3.5-3.5-3.5 1.6-3.5 3.5 1.6 3.5 3.5 3.5z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">Bill Peters with his wife, Janet. He said cheating at cricket on his home island of St Lucia would have led to a fight. <\/span> Photograph: Gary Calton\/The Guardian<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The clip has been viewed more than 7m times and has made headlines around the world including, as would be expected, in Australia. One wit on Facebook remarked: \u201cIt\u2019s official, Saltburn are the Argentina of local cricket.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Neither Saltburn nor Norton have commented on the affair, which is being investigated by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/uk-news\/north-yorkshire\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">North Yorkshire<\/a> and South Durham Cricket League.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">When the Guardian visited the cricket club no one wanted to talk. Tennis players arriving for games on the adjacent courts just burst out laughing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">In town, Pete Welsh, part of the litter-picking posse, was struggling to get his head round it. \u201cIt must have been a very loud click,\u201d said the retired teacher. \u201cIf he was doing it and cricket is a gentleman\u2019s game, it wasn\u2019t very gentleman-like. I reckon if the lad has anything about him he will come forward and say yes, it was me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Just how someone managed to click his fingers so loudly that the umpire heard it is baffling a lot of people. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/sport\/cricket\/videos\/cgr7xyx4zjxo\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">commentator Jonathan Agnew, told BBC Breakfast<\/a>: \u201cI can\u2019t wrap my head round it. Can I hear someone click his fingers from 30 yards away? That umpire \u2026 must have incredible hearing. They call it a gentleman\u2019s game, but it\u2019s not really.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"2352d8db-a57b-4817-96c2-a3b7d2de4b30\" data-spacefinder-role=\"showcase\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-46nkfa\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1ci1e33\"><span class=\"dcr-vyhg7z\"><svg width=\"18\" height=\"13\" viewbox=\"0 0 18 13\"><path d=\"M18 3.5v8l-1.5 1.5h-15l-1.5-1.5v-8l1.5-1.5h3.5l2-2h4l2 2h3.5l1.5 1.5zm-9 7.5c1.9 0 3.5-1.6 3.5-3.5s-1.6-3.5-3.5-3.5-3.5 1.6-3.5 3.5 1.6 3.5 3.5 3.5z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">Pete Welsh, a retired teacher, said the apparent cheating was ungentlemanly.<\/span> Photograph: Gary Calton\/The Guardian<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The story has prompted many jokes but if you play cricket in the league then it is less of a laughing matter.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">In Saltburn\u2019s previous match, against Shildon Railway second XI, the wicketkeeper made an incredible eight catches in his team\u2019s 22-run victory. The men\u2019s Test record for catches by a keeper in an innings is seven.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Shane Rowley was playing for Shildon Railway and is sure he was a victim of clicking. When he was judged out, he said to the umpire: \u201cCome on, please. You know I haven\u2019t hit that one. I was miles away from it. I wish I was somewhere near it!\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">He didn\u2019t hear the ball hit his bat \u2013 \u201cbut everyone else did,\u201d Rowley told the Guardian. Or did they?<\/p>\n<figure id=\"2e4c6969-0043-46ee-ae98-4fa5fe23847e\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-d9bay7\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-174mzkf\"><span class=\"dcr-vyhg7z\"><svg width=\"18\" height=\"13\" viewbox=\"0 0 18 13\"><path d=\"M18 3.5v8l-1.5 1.5h-15l-1.5-1.5v-8l1.5-1.5h3.5l2-2h4l2 2h3.5l1.5 1.5zm-9 7.5c1.9 0 3.5-1.6 3.5-3.5s-1.6-3.5-3.5-3.5-3.5 1.6-3.5 3.5 1.6 3.5 3.5 3.5z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\"> No one wanted to talk at Saltburn Cricket Club.<\/span> Photograph: Gary Calton\/The Guardian<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">After the game and the eight catches behind, Rowley said they raised complaints about poor umpiring. After Clickgate footage emerged on social media, Rowley said he rang an umpiring official to apologise.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cI said, can I just retract what I said earlier in the week and apologise and please extend apologies to the umpires.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Rowley said three players did get a nick on the ball before they were caught. The others were adamant they did not and were \u201cabsolutely fuming\u201d. Including him, his team\u2019s last man out.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cIt is absolutely unbelievable,\u201d said Rowley. \u201cI\u2019ve never been involved in a game where I\u2019ve seen anything like it and I\u2019ve been playing for 30 years, since I was eight.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">To say other clubs are annoyed might be an understatement. Ian Palmer, chair of Newton Aycliffe <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/cricket\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cricket<\/a> Club, said, if true, it was \u201cscandalous\u201d.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"13a978ca-7fac-439d-8a8b-50f7b0981189\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-d9bay7\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-174mzkf\"><span class=\"dcr-vyhg7z\"><svg width=\"18\" height=\"13\" viewbox=\"0 0 18 13\"><path d=\"M18 3.5v8l-1.5 1.5h-15l-1.5-1.5v-8l1.5-1.5h3.5l2-2h4l2 2h3.5l1.5 1.5zm-9 7.5c1.9 0 3.5-1.6 3.5-3.5s-1.6-3.5-3.5-3.5-3.5 1.6-3.5 3.5 1.6 3.5 3.5 3.5z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">Saltburn Cricket Club has not commented on the incident, which has been seen 7m times on social media.<\/span> Photograph: Gary Calton\/The Guardian<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">He added: \u201cThese are lads giving up all of their Saturday to play a game of cricket and if they are being cheated it is just not on really.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The \u201cClicky Ponting\u201d player has been identified as Brian Devine, a 38-year-old company secretary who has lost sponsorship from a local Indian restaurant. Unconfirmed reports suggest he has been suspended by his club. Devine did not respond to an approach for comment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">For Neal Toulson, a former chair of Thornaby Cricket Club and someone involved in the game for more than 50 years, the allegations are a reflection of a wider malaise.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cI think cricket in general has gone down the pan a little bit with regards to gamesmanship,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen I was a lad \u2013 and it\u2019s a while ago now \u2013 you never even appealed unless you thought it was genuinely out. Now everybody\u2019s shouting for everything. And then there\u2019s the sledging.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Sledging, the dark art of trying to put off a batter with insults or teasing, goes on all the time in lower league cricket, Toulson said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">He added: \u201cYou\u2019d think they were playing for money. It\u2019s crazy, right? I always took cricket seriously, I competed as hard as I could but at the same time \u2013 you play fair.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Toulson said he hoped there would be a full investigation and if cheating was found then a ban should be the consequence.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cIt has come across as a bit of a joke but it\u2019s not. It\u2019s cheating. If the guy is found guilty he should be punished. I\u2019ve seen players banned for swearing to themselves and it is a lot worse than that.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/uk-news\/2026\/jul\/29\/cricket-seaside-town-reacts-to-clickgate-cheating-saltburn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>At the Saltburn over-60s ukulele club there was a unanimous reaction to news that the town\u2019s cricket club were being compared to the Argentina football team: laughter. Then a spirited rendition of I Love to Boogie. Saltburn over-60s ukulele perform rendition of I Love to Boogie \u2013 video On the seafront, a litter-picking volunteer was [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":255220,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6803],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-255219","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cricket"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/255219","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=255219"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/255219\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/255220"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=255219"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=255219"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=255219"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}