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 half-centuries with a best of 99 against Sussex at Arundel in June.
Right-handed Leaning also scored 220 runs in eight Royal London Cup one-day 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.
But he has 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 and 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.
Leaning said: "We've got a fantastic squad – not just the seniors 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."
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