The North Yorkshire & South Durham Cricket League launched an investigation into the player and the second-division Saltburn team. An amateur cricketer in England has been banned for two years in a cheating scandal caught on video. The allegations came to light in July when a video showed a fielder clicking his fingers to imitate the sound of a bat connecting with the ball before a player is called out. It spent weeks interviewing players and reviewing video footage.
“Charges were subsequently brought against the player and Saltburn C.C.,” the league said in a statement Friday. “Both admitted the charges.”
An amateur cricketer in England has been banned for two years in a cheating scandal caught on video. The allegations came to light in July when a video showed a fielder clicking his fingers to imitate the sound of a bat connecting with the ball before a player is called out.
“The league recognizes the strain this has placed on many people, especially those who were abused online and in person. A cricket umpire could be fooled into calling a player out if they believed they heard the sound of the ball clipping the edge of a bat before being caught. The player, identified across British media as Brian Devine, was suspended from all cricket under the jurisdiction of the England and Wales Cricket Board for a two-year period through late September 2028. The Saltburn team was relegated to division three and will start next season with 60-point deduction. The club also has been fined 300 pounds ($400).
“This covers playing, coaching, umpiring, scoring and managing junior teams,” the league said. We ask everyone to respect that the formal process is now complete,” the league said.
