YORKSHIRE trio Joe Root, Adam Lyth and Gary Ballance have achieved a rare feat in cricketing history by topping the English first-class batting averages for the summer of 2014.

It is only the second time in history that three players from the same county have finished one, two and three on the list, and the first time since 1901 when Sussex players Charles Fry, George Brann and Kumar Ranjitsinhji did it.

Root’s performances for England and Yorkshire left him top of the pile with an average of 75.14. He scored 1,052 from 11 first-class matches this summer, including two centuries, one double hundred and six other fifties.

Lyth was next with 70.39. He scored 1,619 runs from 17 matches for the White Rose with five centuries, two doubles and six fifties.

And Ballance’s performances for Yorkshire and England brought him an average of 69.50. He scored 1,390 runs from 14 matches, scoring six hundreds and six fities. Root batted 17 times, Lyth 24 and Ballance 21.

Two other Yorkshire players in Kane Williamson and Jonny Bairstow finished in seventh and 17th place with averages of 57.18 and 51.33 respectively, meaning Yorkshire have five players in the top 20.