Through the Years: Sam Evans' Foxes Career So Far

After signing a new deal at the end of last week, we take a look back at some of Sam Evans’ most memorable moments in a Leicestershire shirt.

DEBUT:

Evans made his First Team bow at the age of 19 in Leicestershire’s final fixture of 2017, a County Championship clash with Northamptonshire at Grace Road. Evans’ selection followed an impressive run in the Second XI while balancing his studies at Loughborough University, headlined by his maiden SEC century and a score of 82 not out in the same fixture against Derbyshire that July.

On a cloudy September morning with an uncontested toss, batting conditions weren’t exactly favorable. The Foxes slumped to 26/7, before Ben Raine, Zak Chappell and Dieter Klein rallied to add 102 further runs before the former fell for 57.

In a baptism of fire, Evans was caught behind for eight off the bowling of Richard Gleeson, who along with Ben Sanderson, finished with a five-fer. Leicestershire fought back with the ball to dismiss the visitors for 202 all out, having been well-placed at 168/2.

The Foxes fared much better with the bat second time around, with a gritty 29 off 82 deliveries for the youngster helping to set the platform for a score of 270. It left Northamptonshire requiring 197 runs to win, which they managed with six wickets intact.

MAIDEN TON:

After impressing at the end of the Bob Willis Trophy campaign in 2020, and in pre-season the following spring, Evans was afforded the chance to cement his claim for a spot opening the batting in 2021.

In just his second appearance of the season, he hit his maiden ton for Leicestershire, a splendid 138 made at The Oval against a Surrey attack containing the likes of Kemar Roach and Jamie Overton.

The Academy graduate put on 130 for the opening stand with ex-Loughborough teammate Hassan Azad, with Evans’ career-best score later ended by Amar Virdi, as the Foxes were all out for a solid 375.

It was his second first-class hundred, complementing a score of 114 against Northamptonshire in just his second first-class innings for Loughborough MCCU.

THREE SUCCESSIVE CENTURIES:

A century at The Oval was to spark a stunning run of early season form for Evans. In his next outing, a trip to Gloucestershire, Evans tonned up again.

After losing partner Azad to the second ball of the match, Evans remained stolid, adding 126 for the second wicket alongside Marcus Harris. The Leicester-born batsman posted 102 from 263 balls, and, for the second time in as many matches, had fellow Leicester lad Lewis Hill at the other end to celebrate with.

A week later, Evans was at it again. A third successive first innings ton, and a second of the season against Surrey. This time at Uptonsteel County Ground, he was the first of three centurions in the innings for the Foxes, scoring 112 before he again fell victim to Virdi. Harris and Harry Swindells also reached three figures.

SEC FINAL SKIPPER:

In September 2019, Leicestershire’s Second XI headed south to face Hampshire in the Second Eleven Championship final at The Ageas Bowl.

After averaging a touch shy of 55 in his seven matches in the build up to the showpiece decider, Evans was handed the captaincy for the four days. A strong side, featuring the likes of Hill, Swindells, Ben Mike and Callum Parkinson fell 143 run shy of victory, but it was to prove an invaluable campaign for Evans.

INDIA TOUR:

Trust in Evans’ leadership skills extended into 2022, as he led the side for the high-profile visit of India’s Test squad for a four-day tour match in June.

An agreement for some of India’s travelling party to feature in the Foxes’ XI saw the 25-year-old blessed with the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna in his attack, but the fixture’s star bowler was to be someone closer to home, as Roman Walker took 5/24 on day one.

With the bat, Evans lined up alongside Cheteshwar Pujara and Rishabh Pant in the first innings, before partnering with Shubman Gill in the second, adding a hard-fought 26 from 82 balls.

GAME-SAVER:

Injuries to Chris Wright and Beuran Hendricks left the side with just two front-line bowlers during the second innings up at Durham in April 2022. As such, day three became about damaged limitation.

Chasing leather, Evans epitomised the spirit which later earned him Fielder of the Year, as he saved a copious amount of runs all over the field. Such efforts kept Durham from declaring in the evening of day three, with the home side eventually declaring overnight.

Adding to his graft in the field, Evans batted for the entirety of day four, finishing on 77 not out from a mammoth 254-ball stay at the crease to save the game.