Steven Davies announces he is gay–Does it even matter in cricket?

Steven Davies announces he is gay–Does it even matter in cricket?

The news was all over the place. It was being termed as the “scoop” of 2011 before the English media turn their attention to churn scoop after scoop about Prince William and Kate Middleton’s
exchange of the vows in April. It was even featured on CNN.

A cricketer was ready to come out of the closet. He had been hiding behind the walls far too long and needed to free himself off the shackles of social atrocities. A cricketer is gay.
More specifically, he is English. He is also the first international cricketer to spill about his private life. He is wicketkeeper Steven Davies.

The newspaper painted the story as dramatic as they could. Davies was pictured in a grainy up-close photograph; hands were folded while his chin mounted on the hands. The interview had
a very heart-wrenching story. He was talking rather slowly and cautiously about how he felt trapped in his cricket gear and coming out was even tougher than facing a Brett Lee delivery. But he concludes that he is relieved now.

The story was well spawned with the cute story of how beautiful his team-mates were, how Coach Andy Flower was the first one he decided to confide in, and then along with Captain Andrew
Strauss he told the squad who were getting all psyched to go to Australia to retain the Ashes. He gushed that the team-mates were all very supportive and they have stood by him, looking past his private life, and seeing the real him. It seems that the “bonding”
camp in Germany really worked then.

The media have gone all crazy admiring the boldness and courage of the 24-year-old Surrey player. Support messages have been pouring in all day and night within and outside the cricket
circle. Headlines such as Davies “changes the sport” and “everyone will benefit” from Davies’ revelation. Some of the writers were overly concerned how he would tour in those countries where homosexuality is considered illegal.

It is definitely commendable that Davies has not decided to stay safe and live with the stigma all his life. After all there have been sports stars who have kept their private lives, well
private. But Davies did not sell his private life to a tabloid at the end of his career in exchange for some quick cash, but he chose to speak out at the age of 24, when his career has barely kicked off. Thinking about the challenges and the sledge that he
will be facing ahead in his career can be mind-boggling but he did this knowingly that the crowd will hurl insulting comments as he would strut his stuff towards the crease.

The thing that is irritating is the fact that the amount of media attention the news has been garbing in the first place. It is 2011, a decade of the 21^stcentury has gone by,
and being gay is not a big deal anymore.

To be fair to Davies, he has definitely stamped himself as the role model for all the troubled cricketers and sports stars in general. There are already a handful of international cricketers
who must be keeping their secret hidden.

There is Stuart Broad, another Englishmen who dances to Justin Bieber’s tunes and wears a pink tutu frock while dancing.

There is Mitchell Johnson, who might be all manly and full with tattoos, but a cat tattoo? Seriously? Your time has come, just don’t be afraid and seek the courage from Davies.

Davies sure deserves the support from cricket enthusiasts and the cricket fraternity, but the media should just cut the whole “it is a great day for sports” story and focus on the World
Cup. We deserve to be a part of the beautiful game, across the cultures, races, sexual preferences etcetera.

All hail Davies, a revolution has begun.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article are solely of the writer’s and do not reflect bettor.com’s official editorial policy.