JOE Leach is making a strong impression in the overall Professional Cricketers' Association Most Valuable Player rankings for 2017.

The Worcestershire captain has secured two top 10 finishes in the overall MVP rankings for 2015 and 2016 - finishing 10th and fourth respectively after two excellent campaigns in which he was voted the County's players' player of the year.

And the 26-year-old all-rounder is again the highest ranked Worcestershire player in the latest rankings.

Leach is currently lying in 21st spot with 111 points at an average of 13.91.

John Hastings impressive start at New Road means he is not far behind Leach and is on 103 points - at an average of 12.82 - and occupying 29th position.

The Australian all-rounder, who will soon link up with his country for the ICC Trophy, is no stranger to high placings in the MVP lists from his time with Durham Jets.

He finished 22nd in the 2014 rankings and fifth in 2015.

After Leach and Hastings, the next best placed Worcestershire players are Ben Cox (81st), Ed Barnard (87th) and Tom Kohler-Cadmore (94th) on 71, 69 and 65 points respectively.

The overall leader is new Yorkshire skipper Gary Ballance on 195 points at 21.66 followed by veteran Kent all-rounder Darren Stevens - 173 at 19.24 - and Glamorgan batsman Colin ingram - 163 at 16.29.

The PCA MVP Rankings system was introduced in 2007 and was designed by the players to identify the match-winners and key influencers of matches throughout the domestic season.

The formula gives full credit to those players whose performances improve their team’s chances of winning.

Points are accrued for all runs scored and wickets taken, these are then adjusted within the context of the match to take into account strike rates and economy rates.

Runs gain more points if they are scored quickly or in low-scoring contests. Top order wickets are judged more valuable than those that fall later.