Tim Mason, a 24-year-old off-spinner, has been signed by Essex on a two-year contract from Leicestershire.

It is a move he will be hoping that leads to the same sort of success that Peter Such has enjoyed since he left Grace Road for Chelmsford nearly a decade ago.

Such saw his career stagnating with the Midland county, but it was transformed by him joining Essex as he emerged as one of the top off-spinners in the country and gained recognition at Test level.

Mason has played only a handful of first class matches for Leicestershire since making his debut in 1994, but has appeared much more regularly in limited-over games.

Essex know that to their cost because he returned career-best figures of 4-12 in a Sunday League clash last season.

Mason's chance to revive his career comes after Essex parted company with Jonathan Powell a few weeks ago. Powell was released following two years of persistent injury problems.

Meanwhile, Robert Rollins today confirmed that he has been in talks with Glamorgan but is not on the verge of signing a contract with the Welsh county.

"A couple of other counties have expressed an interest in me and I am waiting to see if there are further developments," said the 25-year-old wicket-keeper who was unable to reclaim his first-team place after losing it through injury at the start of the summer.

Rollins has two years left on his contract and admits: "In my heart of hearts I would prefer to stay with Essex.

"But I have to think about my career. Barry Hyam has just been capped and is obviously the man in possession and regarded as the number one keeper. So it looks as though it is in my best interests to move."

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