‘Clicky Ponting’ and cricket’s nudge, nudge, wink, wink relationship with fair play

July 31, 2026 — 7:02pm

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For a game that treats sportsmanship so seriously that it has the “Spirit of Cricket” enshrined in its lawbook, cricket has an absurd relationship with fair play.

Nicked the ball? Nah, I’m not walking.

Beat the bat? Close enough. Howzat?!

The gentleman’s game, as cricket is traditionally known, is awash with stories of skulduggery.

In the few days since the chicanery of “Clicky Ponting” – the club cricketer formerly known as Brian Devine who allegedly deceived umpires by clicking his fingers to mimic the sound of an edge – came to light, this masthead has been alerted to a myriad of sharp practices by former players at local level through to the professional ranks.

Some are familiar – the Test batter who calls for a change of gloves a minute before stumps to prevent an extra over being bowled; the wicketkeeper who has signalled to fine-leg as if the ball has beaten them to lure the batter out of their crease and whip the bails off, or appealed for a leg-side catch to avoid a wide being called; the fielder who has “carelessly” scraped the ball on concrete while fetching it from over the fence.

Others are less well-known but also make a mockery of cricket’s reputation for fair play. A former first-grader in Melbourne’s old........

© Brisbane Times