SOMERSET have signed former England and Worcestershire wicketkeeper Steve Davies on a three-year contract

Davies, 30, will leave Surrey at the end of this season.

He last played for England five years ago, has 13 limited-overs caps to his name and scored more than 10,000 first-class runs in a career that began at New Road.

Davies has played as a specialist batsman but hopes to return to wicketkeeping to improve his chances of an international recall.

Earlier, County director of cricket Steve Rhodes ruled out the possibility of a return to New Road for Davies.

Rhodes is happy with the young talent at his disposal in the current squad and, in any case, expected Davies to link up with a Division One side.

He said: "We've got no interest at the moment in him (Davies).

"We've got some terrific good young players. They aren't always consistent because they are young but I do back them and I stick by them.

"Someone like Tom Kohler-Cadmore has got a pair (of ducks) against Sussex but he is a terrific young batsman and he will get there.

"There's other lads, Clarkey (Joe Clarke), Tom Fell, George (Rhodes) has done well, and you've got Coxy (Ben Cox) batting so well at seven.

"I just don't think there is a necessity at the moment to go with Davo (Davies).

"I'm sure his time will be somewhere else, probably in the First Division as well."