24 Year Old English Cricketer Steven Davies Comes Out

Steven Davies has come out, the Telegraph reporting that the Surrey and English wicketkeeper becoming the first playing professional cricketer to announce his he gay. The 24-year-old player said he had decided to make the announcement after months of personal conflict, Davies, who began his professional cricketing career with Worcestershire when he was 18, said he could no longer bear to lie about his sexuality. Davies, who told his family he was gay five years ago and has enjoyed their complete support, said it was a huge relief to finally come out and be honest with the wider public. "I'm comfortable with who I am - and happy to say who I am in public," Davies said. He said he hoped his decision would help other young gay people to have the confidence to follow in his footsteps. He explained that “This is the right time for me…I feel it is right to be out in the open about my sexuality. If more people do it, the more acceptable it will become. That must be a good thing. To speak out is a massive relief for me, but if I can just help one person to deal with their sexuality then that's all I care about." A former England under-19 captain, Davies, who made his international debut in 2009 during the Twenty20 in Trinidad, is widely tipped as a future star of the game. But he admitted hiding his sexuality has affected his relationships in the dressing room. He said he loathed long international tours because he was forced to conceal a critical part of his life from his team-mates. Davies decided to confide in his England colleagues after being called up for the recent Ashes tour to Australia, and said he received wonderful support from his team-mates, especially fellow wicketkeeper Matt Prior and captain, Andrew Strauss, and now looks forward to forging ahead with what he hopes will be, a long and successful career at the highest level. Davies’s decision to go public at such an early stage in his professional life is seen as hugely significant in breaking down barriers surrounding homosexuality in professional sport. "I hope it's all going to be fine with the fans," Davies added. "If there is any abuse or anything then I don't need to worry about those people giving it out. The people that matter to me are family, friends and my team-mates, and everyone has been so amazing, that's what counts."