A Kent League cricketer is celebrating the scalp of England captain Alastair Cook in the tourists’ latest warm-up match before the start of the Ashes.

Right-arm fast bowler Nic Bills was included in the Cricket Australia Invitational XI to take on the tourists in a four-day game at the Sydney Cricket Ground, having spent the summer playing as Whitstable's overseas player.

The 21-year-old was the tightest of the Australian bowlers and got Cook to edge behind to wicket-keeper Peter Nevill on 81 to end hopes of a warm-up century for the Essex man.

Earlier Bills made six with the bat as before being caught by former Kent batsman Michael Carberry off the bowling of Steven Finn.

Bills, from New South Wales, has made only one First Class appearance for his state in March 2011, with a single appearance in Australia’s t20 competition coming nearly two years ago, however is highly thought of in the national set-up.

He has played twice for NSW under-23s since returning from duty at The Belmont this summer, where he was the leading wicket taker with 23 scalps as Whitstable finished bottom of the Premier Division.

He took 35 wickets in all competitions this summer at an average of 22 and scored more than 400 runs, with one knock of 135 not out, with his performances earning selection for a couple of Kent 2nds games.

Whitstable CC club manager Darren Bovis said: "We are over the moon for him. We've sent texts and emails to him already. There's a bit of difference between playing at our place and the SCG.

"He did very well for us through the season, he worked really hard and I think he was disappointed not to have taken more wickets - he beat the edge so many times.

"Maybe he just needed to face a different class of batsman than he was here."

Bovis added: "We first heard about him through (former Whitstable and Kent player) Joe Denly at Middlesex. He had a very impressive CV and we were keen to get him over this summer.

"I don't think we'll be seeing him back around this way again, I think NSW have big plans for him."