MICHAEL Vaughan, Adil Rashid, Andrew Gale – none of them can hold a torch to young York batsman Jack Leaning.

The Heworth-based talent wrote himself into the Yorkshire record books after hitting an unbeaten 164 during the Under-14 squad’s clash with Cheshire last month.

Leaning, the son of former York City goalkeeper Andy Leaning, came to the crease with Yorkshire Schools struggling at 20-3.

But his superb innings not only helped his county recover to a declared total of 298 – it put him at the top of a star-studded list of batsman to have recorded big centuries at youth level.

Beating current Derbyshire batsman John Sadler’s effort against Wales in 1997 by one run, Leaning also finds himself ahead of cricketing stars such as Yorkshire opener Gale (who hit 131 against Somerset in 1999), England captain Vaughan (who recorded 119 at Northamptonshire in 1990) and Rashid (128 against Lancashire in 2001).

Leaning followed up his record-breaking innings with a quick-fire 48 in eight overs in the County Cup against Northumberland and smashed 89 not out against Nottinghamshire last week.

The Archbishop Holgate’s School pupil, who plays his club cricket at Heworth, will represent Yorkshire in their forthcoming fixtures, which culminates in a tour of the South West next month.

“I have been in good recent form and I am very proud I got 164,” he said.

“It was just after I had come back from holiday and I couldn’t wait to get back as I had missed playing for two weeks.

“In my opinion, there were some glorious shots – some big shots – and I got a few maximums. It was the biggest score I have had by a long way. It was special and hopefully it will carry on going like that.”

Leaning has represented his county from the age of 11. As a 12-year-old in 2006 he was the highest run scorer with 221 and last season recorded his first county hundred against Cumbria.

He said he wants to become a professional and dreams of donning the Yorkshire white rose in the future, with the prospect of England honours also on the horizon.

“I have been playing since I was four or five, here at Heworth.

“I play for the juniors in the under-15s, in the second team and, this week, I went up to the first team,” Leaning added.

“Although it depends on the situation, I would like to consider myself as an attacking batsman usually. Hopefully I can get as far as I can.

“It would be a dream to play for county and maybe country.”