An English cricket club is under investigation over an alleged cheating scandal involving the clicking of fingers by a fielder to mimic the sound of an edge.
The investigation has just been launched, but the Saltburn Cricket Club’s second XI, who play in division two of the North Yorkshire & South Durham Cricket League, are being looked into for what one local player has described as the “worst case of cheating I’ve ever seen in cricket”.
Saltburn are yet to comment, but video footage has emerged on social media of several instances where a fielder at first slip appears to click his fingers as the ball passes the outside edge of the bat into the gloves of the wicketkeeper, the umpire to raise his finger after a loud appeal.
The alleged tactic was first raised on social media by a local player Ben Mummery, who describes himself as an “average cricketer” from Durham, and drew widespread outrage.
“First slip clicks his fingers to imitate an edge, bat nowhere near it and given out. This is about the worst case of cheating I’ve ever seen in cricket. Apparently, their keeper has a huge amount of catches this season,” Mummery posted on X with accompanying footage of a first slip fielder clicking his fingers.
His post, which tagged the X accounts of BBC’s Test Match Special, Sky Sports’ cricket account and radio station talkSPORT and the Tailenders podcast featuring England great James Anderson, received several replies with footage appearing to show other similar instances.
In one incident from Saltburn’s game on the weekend, which is the subject of an investigation, a batter was given out first ball despite there being a noticeable gap between the bat and the ball. The batter pointed in the direction of first slip and walked down the pitch to remonstrate with the umpire.
The NYSD Premier League announced late on Monday night (UK time) it had launched a full investigation into this game.
“The League have received a formal complaint regarding alleged incidents in a Division Two game on Saturday. A full investigation has been initiated and until such time as the formal processes are complete no further comment will be made,” the league said.
A batter in another game, against Wolviston’s first XI, appeared bemused after being given out.
One reply came from a man claiming to be the captain of Middlesbrough’s second XI, Rory Cotterill, whose team lost by 29 runs earlier this season, expressing his disbelief at Saltburn’s alleged tactics.
Saltburn’s second XI sit on top of the ladder in the 12-team league with 10 wins from 15 games.
Statistics on the league’s official website show Saltburn’s gloveman well clear on top of the catches list for wicketkeepers with 31, 10 ahead of second.
He took eight catches the previous week against Shildon Railway’s firsts. The record for the most catches taken in an innings at Test level is seven.
Saltburn and the North Yorkshire & South Durham Cricket League have been contacted for comment.
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