Fair play to Steven Davies for having the courage to admit he was gay, wish footballers had his courage. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cr...es-England-cricketer-announces-he-is-gay.html The 24-year-old Surrey player said he had decided to make the announcement after months of personal conflict. In a frank and moving interview with Monday’s Daily Telegraph, Davies, who started 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 clean 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. And he said he hoped his decision would help other young gay people to have the confidence to follow in his footsteps. He explained: “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 dreaded long international tours because he was forced to conceal an important 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. He said he received wonderful support from his team-mates, especially fellow wicketkeeper Matt Prior and captain, Andrew Strauss, and now looks forward to getting on with, what he hopes will be, a long and successful career at the highest level. Davies’s decision to out himself comes two years after Welsh rugby hero Gareth Thomas also went public about his homosexuality. The 36 year-old, who is currently playing for the Crusaders in Europe’s Super League, has voiced his support for Davies and said he admired his courage. He said: “I am really happy for Steven and pleased that he has had the strength and courage to be able to come out and be open and honest about who he is, and to see that he has the support of his family and team-mates in doing it, like I did. “I know how hard it is to be honest about something like this when you are in the public eye, and for him to be able to come out and talk about it at his age is refreshing and hopefully like when I came out, will encourage and inspire others to feel they can do the same. I hope that this will be just the start from him.” Davies admitted he had been partly inspired by Thomas’s bravery in going public about his own sexuality. He said: “Gareth Thomas’s story helped me. It just showed me it can be done. He was brave enough to stand up and say who he was. It was a very courageous thing to do, so if I can help anyone else like he helped me, then that would be great. The world of professional sport remains hugely under-represented in terms of the numbers of openly gay people. But campaigners hope the more who find the courage to come forward, the less of a stigma it will be for those struggling to deal with the issue. While Thomas’s announcement, set against the backdrop of the intensely macho game of rugby, drew widespread admiration, he was coming towards the end of his career. Davies’s decision to go public at such an early stage in his professional life, is seen as hugely significant in breaking down taboos 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." The Sussex bowler Alan Hansford, who played first class cricket between 1989 and 1992, is thought to be the only other openly gay player, but he did not go public about his sexuality until after his retirement. A quote from an Aussie paper: The team respected Davies' confidence until he was ready. Matt Prior, a rival for the keeper's gloves, hugged him.
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Ireland beat England in the Cricket World Cup. What a result. England score 327 and lose to an associate nation. Ireland were 111-5 and Kevin O'Brien then hit a 100 in 50 balls, fastest 100 in World Cup history. Great partnership between O'Brien and Cusack then a gem of an innings from Mooney. Well done Ireland, but England are just an awful bowling side. Next match for England, South Africa, ****ing hell!!!
Ireland are from a load of teams, such as Netherlands, Bermuda and Namibia which are called Associate Teams, which is the level below the big International Teams like Australia, West Indies, Pakistan, India and the like. Ireland beat Pakistan (who have won 1 World Cup, in 1992) in the last World Cup in 2007 so they do have some very good players, and some of them play in the English County Game (i.e. the cricket version of the Premier League). However there is no doubt this is a terrible loss for England. Not just because it was against an Associate Nation but because we were in a very strong position in the game and we didn't exactly make them work for the win at the end. Mind you Ireland deserved to win and hopefully they might gain Test Status (which is the form of the game which lasts up to 5 days and where the players wear white) in a few years which would be great for Irish cricket.
On another subject, I got the forms through the post today for the renewal of my season ticket. I still haven't decided whether to take the plunge and spend ã379 on it. A lot of things need to be considered here, i've got a holiday in Athens later this year plus my brother's wedding in July, and I need to pay for the room for that, my suit for the wedding, money for drinks at the wedding, so need to save up. To renew or not to renew that is the question.
Great stuff matey. What an innings by Kevin O'Brien, 100 off 50 balls!!! That is just mental. I love the Irish cricket players, they're great lads and I wish we had our very own Irishman in the England team. If Morgan weren't injured we would have beaten India as he would've been able to win it for us when we collapsed and probably would've got us an extra 30 runs or so which we lacked in the final overs of our innings. Ireland deserved it, Test Status in a couple of years maybe?
It is difficult to explain what sort of a result this is, I mean I cannot think what the football equivalent would be. That's the thing with cricket, it's often very difficult to explain the outcome of a match, not like Rugby or Tennis or something of the liked. Only cricket fans, or at least someone with a basic knowledge of cricket would understand how big a thing today was. Onto another subject, what's with this points thing that's been added? Got me really confused.
http://twitter.com/#!/jamestwknowles/status/43061948052541442 Bit early for transfer rumours I know but this is an odd one. We were tenuously linked with Agbonlahor in the last transfer window, in the last few days I believe. He has fallen out with Houllier for sure but I still cannot see him joining us. I reckon he might well leave Villa though. @jamestwknowles James Knowles @FrostySCFC @chiefdelilah @homzy Sky Bet have us as favourites to sign Agbonlahor http://www.thefootballnetwork.net/main/stoke-city/s626/st166806/stoke-after-leeds-midfielder-johnson I reckon this one is true however, we've been linked with him for ages.
Agbonlahor eh? Bring it on, would fit us like a teflon glove. Are gloves made out of teflon? Also, what is all this stuff at the side of my thingamewhatsit? Inverness Stokie is on a distinguished road. Why thank you but how does the Not606 computer thingy know of my career ambitions?
Also, ireland beating England eh? Crazy stuff and every single one of those bowlers should be shot and also the fielders, schoolboy errors yet again. They wouldn't win the County Championship with fielding like that today!
I'm on level 26 according to this site, and have 2724 points, whatever that means. Very much confused.
We need to sod Anderson out of the one day side, his record (despite his 188 wickets) isn't very good, he just gets carted all over the place. I know i'm biased but it's time for Ajmal Shahzad to be given a go, Flower is a tough bloke, doesn't mind making tough decisions, and he needs to drop Anderson, Shahzad cannot do any worse surely?
England were crap Rob but Kevin O'Brien though, 100 off 50 balls, fastest World Cup 100 ever, that record has been broken in 3 successive World Cups I think. Sign him up England, we've already nicked one good Ireland player, let's get another one in!!
