Laurie Evans on his new podcast, his England dream, his love of cycling and more

Laurie Evans has put lockdown time to good use by launching his own podcast.

The Sussex batsman has been finding out what makes some of the best players tick during his spells in franchise T20 cricket around the world in the last couple of years.

The first edition of ‘The Inside Half’ was a fascinating chat with Sussex team-mate Luke Wright. He’s also interviewed Greg Searle, the Olympic rowing gold medallist who is his uncle.

Evans might well be the star of his own show by the end of the summer after he was called into the England squad for the first time last week.

The 32-year-old is one of five Sussex players, along with Jofra Archer, Chris Jordan, Ollie Robinson and Phil Salt, named in a 55-man training group ahead of proposed international series against West Indies, Pakistan, Ireland and Australia between July and September.

Based on performances in the last couple of years in white-ball cricket, Evans’ call-up should not come as a surprise.

He was leading run scorer in the 2018 Vitality Blast, when Sussex lost in the final to Worcestershire, and that gave him the chance to play in T20 tournaments in the Caribbean, Afghanistan and Bangladesh as well as the Pakistan Super League. Earlier this winter, he made 94 for England Lions against Australia A.

“When the squad came out there were probably a few names people weren’t expecting but I wasn’t surprised,” he said.

“I think I have been knocking on the door for a couple of years and feel that every time I’ve stepped up it has brought the best out of me. I’d have been disappointed if I hadn’t been in the squad.”

Evans will link up with his Sussex team-mates to step up their training in the next couple of weeks and with the possibility of up to 12 white-ball England matches later this summer there is every incentive for him to impress.

“I’m realistic, because there are a lot of good players in that squad, but I believe I can make the step up if I get the opportunity,” he added.

“I had a really good start to the year in Australia and I was looking forward to the new season, I wanted to keep that momentum going.”

Instead, as well as improving his editing skills putting together ‘Inside Half’, Evans has spent lockdown staying fit – which he has always enjoyed – and getting out and about on a bike he brought from former Sussex and England wicketkeeper, Matt Prior.

“I’ve always enjoyed gym work and keeping fit so lockdown hasn’t been hard in terms of fitness,” he said.

“And I’ve had some really good trips out on the bike. My longest was 85km and it’s a great way of seeing Sussex, cycling past nice houses and thinking what a great place to live that would be!”

He’s also spent plenty of time with his five-month-old son Josh, an opportunity that would have been denied him had the season ran its usual course.

“It’s been pretty non-stop for the last couple of years and it’s been nice to experience almost a normal summer, spending time with Josh and my wife [Verity],” he said.

“But I have missed cricket and I’m desperate to play again. It’s taken a lot of dedication and hard work to get my game to where it is now, and I think my record backs that up. It would be great to get the opportunity to play for England and I will be doing all I can to make it happen.”