Steven Davies set to retire after 20-year enjoying profession
Steven Davies, the previous England wicketkeeper, has introduced his choice to retire on the finish of the season. Davies performed for Worcestershire, Surrey and Somerset throughout a 20-year profession and was capped 13 occasions in limited-overs internationals by his nation.
In 2011, having been a part of England’s profitable Ashes tour to Australia, he turned the primary skilled cricketer to come back out as homosexual. “I’m comfortable with who I am – and happy to say who I am in public,” he instructed the Telegraph.
Davies got here by means of at Worcestershire, successful England recognition as a part of the T20I facet within the Caribbean in 2008-09 and an ODI debut later within the yr on the Champions Trophy. He moved to Surrey the next season, and was Matt Prior’s understudy for the 2010-11 Ashes, though a Test debut by no means got here.
Across seven seasons in London, Davies scored greater than 6000 first-class runs at a median of 42.65, as effectively 2719 in List A cricket and 1584 in T20, serving to the membership to carry the CB40 trophy in 2011 and the Division Two title in 2015.
He moved to Somerset in 2017, and was a part of the staff that completed runners-up within the Championship and Bob Willis Trophy three seasons working. This summer season, nonetheless, the 37-year-old has solely performed twice within the Championship and 5 occasions within the Metro Bank Cup, with the prolific James Rew rising as first-choice behind the stumps.
“I will always look back at my career with Somerset fondly,” Davies mentioned. “During my time here we managed to win a couple of trophies and play some really good red-ball cricket. There was a period around the covid years when we were playing a brand of dominant cricket which will live long in my memory. Unfortunately for us, Essex were too, which meant we couldn’t get our hands on that first Championship trophy.
“I really feel that now’s the fitting time for me to retire. I at all times mentioned to the membership that as quickly as we get the fitting particular person in place to take over, I’d step apart and allow them to get their publicity and studying accomplished whereas they’re younger. I feel we are able to all agree that Somerset are in secure arms with Rewy behind the stumps.
“I’d like to thank all the members and supporters from Worcestershire, Surrey and Somerset who have always shown me great support. I also need to thank all the directors of cricket, CEOs, coaches and staff for all the opportunities they have given me. A special thank you has to go to Rob Wood, who was my first cricket coach. He gave me the fundamentals and skills needed to get me ready for a life of professional cricket. Finally, and most importantly, I’d like to say the biggest thank you to my family: Lin, Michael and my sister Gemma. They have always been by my side without question. They are great people and I love them all very much. I hope I have done them proud.”
Somerset CCC Director of Cricket, Andy Hurry, added: “Steve has had an amazing career within both the international and domestic arenas, and during his time with us he has been the consummate professional. His performances across the formats and his contributions to nurturing the growth of other players have been immense. The calm assuredness and experience that he brought to the dressing room was a key element of our success over the last few years and he will be missed by all those who have played and worked alongside him.
“On behalf of everybody related to the membership; the gamers, the workers and everybody throughout the recreation who has had the privilege to play or work alongside Steve, we thank him for all the things. He strikes on to this new and thrilling chapter in his life with all our greatest needs, and we look ahead to warmly welcoming him again to the Cooper Associates County Ground sooner or later.”