Footage of disputed wicket involving Saltburn clickgate player

Brian Devine has been suspended by his current club Saltburn over allegations that he has been clicking his fingers to claim a caught-behind wicket, and footage of several incidents later went viral on social media.

The main one has been the controversial dismissal of Norton seconds player Noman Shabir in a recent North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League game, which Saltburn’s seconds won comfortably.

Mr Devine has played for Saltburn for several years, but during a brief spell away from the North Yorkshire club, he captained Pudsey St Lawrence to the Bradford Premier League Second XI Premier Division title in 2023.

Footage has been sent to The Northern Echo’s sister publication in West Yorkshire the Telegraph and Argus by a concerned local cricket player, who claims some of Mr Devine’s actions were suspicious during the Pudsey derby that September.

Saints won the game by eight wickets at Congs, which ensured they pipped Jer Lane and Woodlands to the title.

DEVINE INTERVENTION? Brian Devine launches a big appeal as the wicket keeper shows little interest in claiming a dismissal in the Pudsey derby (Image: Submitted)

Footage from the game appears to show slip fielder Mr Devine waving his arms in an unusual fashion while opener Huzayfa Azam flays a shot through the offside.

Another incident in the Pudsey derby in which Brian Devine’s left hand moved as the ball arrived at the bat (Image: Submitted)

Later in the innings, similar footage shows a batsman being given out caught behind, one of four catches for the wicket-keeper in that match.

The man at the crease lunges forward and the ball passes close to the bat, but only Mr Devine at slip appeals, while the wicket keeper appears to have no interest in claiming the dismissal.

Not only that, but the umpire gives the batsman out,

The player looks astonished at the decision, appearing to put his hand out in protest and stare down the pitch at the umpire for several seconds before reluctantly walking.

Pudsey St Lawrence said released a statement in relation to the footage published by the T&A and also videos appearing on a national newspaper’s website.

The statement says: “Pudsey St Lawrence Cricket Club is aware of allegations involving Mr Brian Devine during his time as a player for the club.

“At no stage was the club aware of any alleged misconduct by Mr Devine, nor were any concerns or complaints raised with the club by opposition teams or umpires who officiated the fixtures in question.

“The club expects its players to uphold the highest standards of integrity and sportsmanship and takes any credible concerns extremely seriously.”

 After worldwide coverage of the Mr Shabir dismissal, which has been commented on by celebrities and viewed far and wide, Saltburn put out a statement on social media.

It read: “This is issued in response to the widely publicised complaint made against a Saltburn Cricket Club member and, as a consequence, against the club more generally.

“We are treating this allegation with the utmost seriousness and, as a family-centric club, we are fully cooperating with the NYSD League’s investigation.

“We believe that the club acted decisively as soon as the complaint and investigation were made known to us.

A controversial dismissal in a match involving Brian Devine when he played for Pudsey St Lawrence (Image: Submitted)

“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.

“Initial discussions have already taken place between club officials and the league.

“This has been a very distressing and stressful experience for all those concerned, and we would ask that this reality is borne in mind and that personal boundaries are respected, as we are an amateur club entirely run by volunteers.

“We will be making no further comment at this time.”

The T&A contacted officials from Pudsey St Lawrence, Pudsey Congs and the Bradford Premier League for comment on the footage we have been sent, but had received no comments by the time of publication.