Laurie Evans: Surrey re-sign Sussex batsman

Surrey have re-signed Laurie Evans, the England Lions batsman, on a two-year deal.

Evans, who is currently with Sussex, started his career at Surrey and is considered a product of their academy. Currently somewhat out of favour at Sussex, he has recently gone on loan to Surrey to strengthen their Bob Willis Trophy team.

Although Evans has never played senior international cricket, he made his England Lions debut earlier this year - he made 94 against a Cricket Australia XI in Carrara - and was included in England's enlarged white-ball training group ahead of the ODI series against Ireland in July.

Now aged 32, his hopes of breaking into England's white-ball teams are probably diminishing, but Evans is a familiar figure on the T20 - and T10 - circuit and may prove of particular value to Surrey's white-ball sides.

Evans will play in Surrey's Bob Willis Trophy fixture against Kent this weekend. A Sussex statement said that Evans would then return to Hove for the Vitality T20 Blast, but Cricday understands conversations are ongoing about the possibility of him moving sooner.

While Surrey have something of a reputation for recruiting talent from other counties, it is not entirely fair. They have a better record than most for producing their own players, with Evans set to be the 15th man in their current squad they consider to be homegrown.

"I have known Laurie since his days in our age group teams and at our club, Malden Wanderers, and am well aware of his abilities and strong character," Alec Stewart, Surrey's Director of Cricket, said.

"With the number of players we already provide to the England set-up - and potentially more to come in the near future - it was important to bring an experienced batsman into our squad. Laurie knows the club inside out and will add great value to the dressing room."