Sport · Sri Lanka Bureau
Amateur cricketer banned two years over 'caught behind' deception tactics
Brian Devine, an amateur English cricketer accused of repeatedly simulating bat-on-ball contact sounds to influence umpiring decisions, has received a two-year ban from club cricket. His team has also faced league relegation following the disciplinary action.
LSN Sri Lanka ·
The North Yorkshire cricketer, nicknamed "Clicky Ponting" by fellow players, was found to have used finger-clicking sounds during caught-behind appeals in an attempt to deceive match officials into awarding dismissals.
Divine's disciplinary case centred on allegations that he systematically mimicked the distinctive sound of a cricket ball striking the bat—a tactic that could influence umpires' decision-making in close appeals. The practice reportedly occurred across multiple matches in club competitions.
Following the investigation, Devine received a two-year suspension from all club cricket activities. His team, Saltburn Cricket Club's second XI, was simultaneously relegated from Division Two of the North Yorkshire league structure as a consequence of the player misconduct.
The case reflects ongoing concerns within amateur cricket about fair play and the integrity of on-field conduct. Umpires and officials rely heavily on acoustic cues when adjudicating caught-behind dismissals, making deliberate sound simulation a serious breach of cricket's fundamental principles.