Former New Zealand Test Cricketer Heath Davis Comes Out as Gay

New Zealand hero Heath Davis, a test cricketer, has come out as gay over 20 years after retiring and acknowledged the regrettable fact that he had to hide his sexuality while playing for his country. 

The 50-year-old, who now resides in Brisbane, made a number of other shocking admissions in addition to this one. 

In the 1990s, Davis participated in 71 first-class games, five Test matches, and eleven one-day internationals for New Zealand. His career was filled with amazing tales. He came out as gay for the first time among the country’s Test cricketers. 

Nearly 20 years after ending his professional cricket career, Heath Davis came out as gay. 

I Was Repressing It, I Wasn’t Leading A Gay Life: Heath Davis

In 1994, while on tour with the Black Caps in England, Davis says he first began to question his sexuality. He would go out alone in Soho, a district of London known for its gay bars. 

‘It was lonely going to saunas and seedy places to get sex because you didn’t want to be seen,’ said Davis. 

‘I was repressing it, I wasn’t leading a gay life.’  

After playing for Wellington for most of his first-class career, Davis eventually realised he needed a change of environment in order to be himself.

He relocated to Auckland, where he claims everyone on the team was aware of his sexual orientation, and he began to feel more at ease with embracing it. 

‘I was a bit afraid of being out in Wellington … I was sick of hiding it. There was this part of my life I needed to express,’ Davis said.  

‘There were no issues aside from a bit of petty s**t from young guys in the team.’  

I Was A Little Bit Wild: Heath Davis

Gavin Larsen, the head selector for New Zealand, claimed Davis has an “extraordinary gift.” 

‘He was probably the fastest bowler in the country, he could give any batsman the hurry-up,’ Larsen recalled.  

‘But man, did he bowl no-balls, it was infuriating – he simply could not keep his foot behind the front line.’ 

In addition, Davis talked about his difficult upbringing in state-run housing in what he calls a “poor region” close to Wellington, admitting: “I was a little bit wild, perhaps, but had a decent work ethic.” 

He further disclosed that, although it would “sound bizarre,” he was now “seeking Christ” and was a part of a Queensland men’s Christian club. 

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