With the English cricket season beginning to loom large on the horizon, two players confirmed moves yesterday. Left-arm spinner Michael Davies and young wicketkeeper James Knott have moved to Essex and Somerset respectively.

Twenty-four year old Davies, who has represented England A with some success, but was released from Northants at the end of the 2000 season, has joined Essex. With England hopefuls Jason Brown and Graeme Swann to compete with, Davies had found it difficult to secure a regular place in the first team, despite spinner friendly tracks at Wantage Road.

Knott, who left Surrey for the west-country club will play likely under-study to Rob Turner.

In another development yesterday, Somerset Chief Executive, Peter Anderson, confirmed that the club will be having talks with overseas player Jamie Cox, with the view to a further extension of his contract. The Somerset skipper will arrive in England in April, missing the county's tour to South Africa.