YORK ace Jack Leaning has described winning the LV= County Championship in his breakthrough campaign with Yorkshire as “a dream come true”.

The 20-year-old batsman scored 465 runs from ten four-day matches, including four fifties with a best of 99 against Sussex at Arundel in June.

Right-handed Leaning also scored 220 runs from eight Royal London one-day Cup appearances with a maiden professional century against Essex at Scarborough last month.

Leaning debuted in the Championship last summer against a Surrey side including Kevin Pietersen, although it was only as a replacement for England-bound Gary Ballance midway through the clash and he made a second-ball duck.

He has, however, proved his quality this year in helping to clinch what he hopes to be the first of many titles.

“It’s a massive achievement,” said Leaning, who is expected to return to Australia this winter to play Sydney grade cricket with the Sutherland club.

“It’s something you dream of as a kid growing up. For it to happen in my first season, and to contribute to the team, is a dream come true.

“My aim at the start of the season was to cement a first-team place, and I think I’ve done that as the season’s gone along. I’ve proved myself at first-class level. To win the Championship is a complete bonus. It’s fantastic.”

Although Yorkshire’s players will now enjoy some time away from the game, attentions will quickly turn to next year as they return to pre-season training before Christmas.

“We’ve got a fantastic squad,” added Leaning. “Not just the senior lads, but there’s a lot of young lads coming through as well.

“It shows with the amount of players who’ve gone away with the under 19s, and there are some younger than that going away with England. The future looks bright.”