Warner firmly seated on no-booze wagon

Cricket365
August 31, 2015

Australia opening batsman David Warner says it's been 'bizarre' not to touch alcohol for more than three months, but will continue on this path until he feels a situation warrants a celebratory beverage.

Warner swore off alcohol prior to the tour to the West Indies earlier this year, and he's not passed the self-imposed goal of 100 days drink-free. But he says his body is pleased with his efforts, so he'll keep going.

Warner said on the CA website: "It’s been 100 days now so it’s quite bizarre. I did think I had it in me to do it but it’s about the discipline.

"I said from the start before I went to the West Indies that I wanted to give myself the best opportunity to get through the West Indies, the Ashes, a home series, to give myself the best opportunity because we have a lot of cricket to play and I've got to keep my body fresh and by doing that and by all means.

"You can celebrate and drink but at the moment I don't feel we've had anything to celebrate.

"We've won a couple of Test matches and you've got to enjoy your wins because they're very rare to come by. Had we won the (Ashes) series I probably would have had a drink.

"For me it’s about a personal choice and I'm feeling for my body for the longevity of my career so I've got try and put myself and the team first.

"For me to have a good career and a long career I've got to sacrifice little things to help the team and my part is to not drink at the moment.

"By all means I'm not going to stop drinking forever. If I feel there’s a need to have a drink I will."

He felt the need to justify his decision further, citing his wife's similar attitude, as well as team-mate Peter Siddle's even longer stance on the matter: "Look at someone like Peter Siddle, hasn't had a drink in three years.

"It’s just a thing you can do after cricket as well.

"It’s part of our culture, not saying I gave up drinking because I couldn't control myself or anything like that. It’s just the thing that’s been ingrained in myself over the last four-six months.

"I look at my wife (ironwoman Candice) for an example, the 15 years she dedicated to her sport and she probably would have drunk three or four times in her career.

"It’s those little discipline things that can keep you from playing one year to five years but that’s just my choice, that’s my opinion and at the moment I'm not going to stop drinking. (I) just feel like at the moment I don't need anything."