Davies selection sends the right message
Steve Davies’ selection as backup England wicketkeeper for their tour of the UAE to play Pakistan would ordinarily not have attracted much attention, if any at all
Tariq Engineer
25-Feb-2013
Steve Davies’ selection as backup England wicketkeeper for their tour of the UAE to play Pakistan would ordinarily not have attracted much attention, if any at all. But since Davies is only the second professional to come out of the closet in a major English team sport, his selection is an affirmation that is talent is all that matters, writes David Hopps in the Guardian.
England's selectors stuck with Davies, a cricketing decision made on cricketing grounds. The way to respond to changing social norms is never to allow then to enter the debate. "From a continuity and consistency point of view, he gets the nod," said the chief selector, Geoff Miller. It is good to see that these days even "the nod," the oldest selectorial cliche in sport, is without prejudice.
Tariq Engineer is a former senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo