David Warner to continue his self-imposed ban on drinking
Australian opening batsman and recently appointed Test vice-captain David Warner will continue his self-abstinence from drinking, Cricket Australia’s official website reported. The 28-year-old said that the ban he imposed upon himself at the start of the West Indies tour will continue in the wake of the 3-2 Ashes defeat.
"It’s been 100 days now so it’s quite bizarre,” Warner said, referring to how he has stayed away from alcohol from the beginning of Australia’s tour to the Carribean in May. He said that he had taken the decision in order to remain in peak condition with the amount of cricket his national side are set to play this year.
"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. 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."
Warner added however that the decision is not a life-term one saying that he will be celebrating accordingly when the occasion arises.
"By all means I’m not going to stop drinking forever. If I feel there’s a need to have a drink I will,” Warner said. “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.”
Warner also revealed that his wife was his inspiration in taking the brave call.
"I look at my wife (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,” he said. "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."