( CNN ) -- International cricketer Steven Davies has received the support of his England colleagues and team bosses after becoming the sport 's first active professional player to announce that he is gay . Davies , a wicketkeeper-batsman with the county Surrey who has played in 13 limited-overs internationals for England , made his revelations in a newspaper interview with The Daily Telegraph published on Monday . `` I feel now is the right time to be open about my sexuality . Those close to me have known for a while and have been nothing but supportive and understanding , '' he told the England Wales and Cricket Board website . `` I 'd like to thank Surrey and the ECB , as well as the England players and coaching staff . They have all offered me their full backing from the moment I told them . `` 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 . '' The 24-year-old was not selected for the World Cup being played in India , Sri Lanka and Bangladesh , but told coach Andy Flower about his sexuality before the tournament started this month . `` This is something Steve chose to discuss with myself and the squad some time ago . I would like to make it very clear that Steve is first and foremost a very talented cricketer and a valued member of the England set-up , '' Flower said on the ECB website , which also featured a statement from its managing director Hugh Morris . Flower added : `` 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 . `` Steve has had and will continue to have the full respect and support of the entire squad and everyone involved in England cricket . '' It is rare for sportspeople to make revelations about their sexuality while still playing , and the closest precedent in cricket was Alan Hansford , a player with English county Sussex who admitted he was gay after retiring in 1992 . Davies told The Daily Telegraph that he had been inspired by the example of Welsh rugby star Gareth Thomas , who revealed his homosexuality two years ago . `` It just showed me it can be done . He was brave enough to stand up and say who he was , '' Davies said . `` It was a very courageous thing to do , so if I can help anyone else like he helped me , then that would be great . '' Former England international Vikram Solanki , now chairman of his country 's Professional Cricketers ' Association , said Davies ' sexuality was no secret within the cricket community . `` Many of those he plays with and against have known about this for some time , and none of them regard it as anything other than an entirely personal matter , '' Solanki said . Davies also received the backing of openly gay British actor , writer and television presenter Stephen Fry . `` Brave , charming , modest and inspiring . No big deal yet of course a huge deal . Top man Steven Davies , '' Fry wrote on social networking website Twitter . Meanwhile , the West Indies thrashed the Netherlands by 215 runs at the 2011 World Cup in New Delhi on Monday . The two-time champions bounced back from last week 's defeat by South Africa to get off the mark in Group B , posting a total of 330-8 in 50 overs as Chris Gayle top-scored with 80 and Kieron Pollard smashed 60 off only 27 balls faced . Pollard scored the third quickest half-century in the tournament 's history . Teammate Kemar Roach then became only the sixth bowler to take a hat-trick at a World Cup when he polished off the Dutch line-up with three successive wickets to end with figures of 6-27 in an innings of just 115 . It was a disappointing day for the beaten team , who last week scored 292 before losing against England .
English cricketer Steven Davies makes public announcement about his sexuality . The 24-year - old is the world 's first active professional player to do so . He said he was inspired by the example of gay Welsh rugby player Gareth Thomas . Archie Watson scores hat - trick as West Indies beat Netherlands by 215 runs at World Cup .