Utter relief!

England and Surrey wicketkeeper Steven Davies is the first professional cricketer to come out. The 24 year-old said that he told his team mates and they were fine with it and admits: “This is the right time for me. I’m comfortable with who I am – and happy to say who I am in public. 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.” He went on to say: “To speak out is a massive relief for me. If I can just help one person to deal with their sexuality, then that’s all I care about.”

Davies publicly praised his teammates and management, in particular Andrew Strauss and Matt Prior, and the England team director Andy Flower, for the way they had handled the situation. Flower said: “His private life is his own concern and has absolutely no bearing on his ability to excel at the very highest level in international sport and I have no doubt that he will continue to work hard to regain a place in the England squad.”