Former village cricketer Jack Brooks hailed his first-class debut for Northants against Australia as “a memorable experience”, writes STUART EARP.

The 25-year-old seamer, who is in the middle of a one-year contract with the county club, took 2-89 from 20 overs and scored ten not out as Northants were beaten by 135 runs.

But the result hardly seemed to matter for Brooks, who was playing for Tiddington only a few years ago before moving up the ladder to play for Oxford CC and Oxfordshire.

Speaking after a well-earned day off following his three-day stint against the tourists, Brooks said: “I’m more than happy overall, and it was fantastic to get those two wickets.

“I was a bit nervous at the start, but tried to be relaxed. I suppose I could have bowled better towards the end of their innings, but I was a bit tired.

“To go for five an over against Test batsmen wasn’t too bad overall.”

Brooks recalled his memorable over that reaped his first two wickets in first-class cricket – and it could have been three!

He bowled Andrew McDonald for 32 off the first ball and, after a single, then sent back fast bowler Mitchell Johnson caught at slip by Riki Wessels for 14.

“Later in the same over, I had Peter Siddle dropped in the gully,” he said.

“It was all a bit of a blur at the time. The adrenalin was pumping and it gave me my biggest-ever rush.

“When I went down to fine leg at the end of the over, I got a standing ovation from the crowd, which was brilliant.“ Brooks made his mark with the bat too.

He smacked off-spinner Nathan Hauritz for a four and a six in one over to earn the admiration of the Aussies.

“They even congratulated me for those,” he said.

Afterwards, both sides got together for a few beers and Siddle presented him with two pairs of cricket boots.

“He just asked my size and handed them over,” said Brooks.

Northants coach David Capel, the former England all-rounder, said that Brooks had earned the opportunity.

Capel said. “He’s been bowling very well in the second team and we think very highly of him here.

“I really like the way he bowls. He is an exciting kind of player, and I'm pretty confident that he should be getting more opportunities. He’s been leading the attack well in the second team.”

Brooks is now “more than confident” he will be given a new contract and said he was thoroughly enjoying the experience.

“It’s a great crack up here,” he added. “We’ve got a young squad, we socialise together and there’s a really good buzz about the place.”

But the youngster was soon brought back down to earth after his Aussie experience. On Wednesday, he was playing for Northants 2nd against Essex 2nd in front of the proverbial two men and a dog – at Milton Keynes!