Aussie podcasters step in as ‘biggest cheat in cricket history’ suspended
Popular Australian cricket podcasters The Grade Cricketer have offered to help an English club player who has been dubbed the “biggest cheat” in the game’s history.
Saltburn player Brian Devine has been suspended by his northern English club Saltburn after going viral in recent days.
The Saltburn fielder accused of being the “biggest cheat in cricket history”. X
A video exploded on social media which appears to show Devine, while fielding at slip, clicking his fingers to imitate the sound of ball clipping bat. He and his teammates appeal the wicket and the batter is given out by the umpire. Watch the video above.
The poster of the video described it as “about the worst case of cheating I’ve ever seen in cricket”, while TV presenter Piers Morgan weighed in, describing Devine as the “biggest cheat in cricket history” and asking how many batter’s days “has he ruined?“.
Other videos have since emerged alleging Devine has used the ugly tactic multiple times previously.
His club put out a statement on Thursday confirming he has been stood down indefinitely, saying it’s been “a very distressing and stressful experience”.
“We are treating this allegation with the utmost seriousness and, as a family-centric club, we are fully cooperating with the league’s investigation.
“We believe that the club acted decisively as soon as the complaint and investigation were made known to us.
“The player at the centre of the complaint has been suspended and will not play again for the club this season or in the foreseeable future, pending the outcome of this investigation.”
Devine has been referred to as “Clicky Ponting” - a clever spin on Aussie legend Ricky Ponting’s name.
Now, The Grade Cricketer has offered to help Devine fight any charges that might come his way.
Podcast hosts Sam Perry and Ian Higgins have also offered to help the club financially if it loses sponsors as a result of the saga.
Sam Perry and Ian Higgins from The Grade Cricketer. Seven Network
“TGC (The Grade Cricketer) aims to find humanity in the absurdity of cricket, for everyone who never made it,” they said in a statement to The Age.
“For over a decade we have celebrated and benefited from the low-rent charm of club cricket’s rich, dark underbelly, alongside hundreds of thousands of people around the world.
“Of course, it would appear some members at Saltburn CC have engaged in comically sharp practice.
“But sadly, when f---wits like Piers Morgan declare to millions that ‘Clicky Ponting must be the biggest cheat in cricket history’, all proportionality is lost, and we feel a brotherly obligation to support the club in that context.
“Practically speaking, we have also emailed the North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League to propose the creation of a ‘Penguin Fund’ to assist in the recruitment and development of umpires.”
