Saltburn Cricket Club has issued its first public statement since a video showing one of its players deceiving umpires — dubbed the "Clicky Ponting" incident — went viral and provoked widespread condemnation. The club confirmed that the player involved has been banned from playing, saying he was "knocked sideways" by the scale of the backlash the footage generated. The episode has become a talking point in club cricket circles, reigniting debate about gamesmanship and cheating at grassroots level.

The controversy centred on footage appearing to show the player tricking match officials during a game, which spread widely on social media and drew strong criticism from cricket fans and commentators. Saltburn CC's response confirms the club took disciplinary action against the individual rather than downplaying the incident, while acknowledging the personal toll the public reaction has had on him. The story has also prompted wider reflection within the sport, with observers noting that such incidents are not isolated, pointing to a long history of unusual cheating methods in club cricket.