BROMSGROVE born cricketer Steven Davies, the England reserve wicketkeeper, has become the first serving professional to announce he is gay.

The announcement was made on Monday, (February 28), in an interview with a national newspaper after the cricketer decided “the time was right” to be open about his sexuality.

The 24-year-old said: “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. Those close to me have known for a while and have been nothing but supportive and understanding.

“In particular, I’d like to thank Surrey County Cricket Club and the England and Wales Cricket Board, as well as England players and coaching staff.

“My focus now is to play the best cricket I can for Surrey and get back into the England side. I am still the same person and I want to be remembered as a good cricketer, not a gay cricketer.”

A former Bromsgrove School pupil, following a dramatic rise up the pecking order of England’s wicketkeepers he was selected to England’s Ashes squad last September.

He suffered a setback when he was dropped from the World Cup squad, but said in the interview he did not believe the decision of the selectors had anything to do with him revealing his sexuality.

The left-hander has so far made eight one-day international and five Twenty20 appearances for his country.

England coach Andy Flower, England batsman Ian Bell and Rugby League star and Lions captain Gareth Thomas, one of the few openly gay sportsman, have been among those to express support since Davies’ announcement.