Editors at The Sun newspaper have been left red-faced after falling for a Twitter joke poking fun at Kent and England cricket star Sam Billings.

The wicketkeeper was on the end of a prank by team-mate Joe Denly, who tweeted a photo implying that Billings had caught the sun while fielding against Australia in an Ashes warm-up match at the weekend.

But - thinking it was true - the tabloid published the image below of a random chap who bares little resemblance to Billings in today's (Monday's) sports section.

Editors have since apologised, offering Billings a correction in tomorrow's paper but the 24-year-old took the blunder in good spirit.

He tweeted the paper's deputy head of publishing to say there was no need after the mistake entertained his Kent teammates.

Billings played for Kent against Australia at Canterbury in a four-day warm-up for the tourists ahead of their Ashes Test.

The hosts lost by 255 runs as Australia prepare for their first test against England in Cardiff on July 8.