By Charlie Talbot-Smith
A ROLLERCOASTER season has come full circle for Laurie Evans and the Warwickshire batsman admits that at his lowest ebb he did entertain the idea of leaving the county this summer.
The 26-year-old came into the final year of his contract at Edgbaston on the back of a stellar 2013 that had seen him compile 943 Championship runs at an average of 55.47.
But 2014 has not been quite the same success story for Evans, particularly against the red ball and the former Surrey man was unceremoniously dropped from the Bears’ first XI.
Evans has, however, fared somewhat better with the white ball and appears finally to be returning into some form with the Blast finals day approaching.
And, after signing a new three-year deal at the club this week, he is confident the best is still to come from both him and Warwickshire.
“It has been a tough season, very up-and-down for me personally,” said Evans. “I went from being on the verge of a Lions call-up last summer to being dropped from our County Championship team so it was a real mix of emotions.
“Throw in the fact that I was in the last year of my contract as well; that has taken me a long time to finally sort out.
“I was very close to going, I had some great offers from some really good clubs, but I decided to stick here. I love the club and the guys here and I feel that this is the place that can lead me on to bigger things and I feel I can play a major role here.
“This is a great club, just look at where we are right now as probably the only team on for the treble. This is why I signed for three more years.
“I know when I’m playing well that I am going to feature in all forms of the game, I showed last year that I have the game for four-day cricket.”
With a highest score of only 24 from his 12 Championship innings this summer, Evans cannot have many complaints about Dougie Brown’s decision to drop him seven games into a season where his average was barely into double figures.
But, having moved up the order to opener at the start of the summer, Evans admits he struggled to adjust to his new role and welcomed the return of the white ball.
“I have not put in the performances I wanted to this year, it was tough early season opening the batting, that is very different and I took a long time to get used to it from four or five where I was last year,” he added.
“But hopefully I can squeeze my way back into the side for the last three games of the season and put that right.
“I started the Championship slowly and it has taken me a while this summer but I feel I have really found myself a role in the one-day cricket.
“Whether that is sitting back until the last ten overs before going out and giving it a whack, or building an innings as 50 overs allows, I feel I can bat to whatever the match situation is.
“It’s nice to know that I can play any role for the team, to be able to rebuild or just go in and give it a smack.
“It’s good to be coming into form at the right end of the season.”
*This article first appeared in the August 22 edition of The Cricket Paper.
