David Warner benefiting from liquor ban

Perth, November 14 - David Warner's decision to cut down on his alcohol consumption during his wife Candice's pregnancy has paid handsome dividends, with the Australian opener notching up a stunning 253 in the ongoing second Test against New Zealand here on Saturday.

The hosts have already taken a 1-0 lead in the series and have amassed a mammoth total of 559/9 declared in the 1st innings in the second Test of the three-match series.

Warner revealed in the Caribbean this year that he was abstaining from alcohol in order to prepare himself for a hectic playing schedule over the ensuing 18 months.

And before the start of play on Day Two, he said the alcohol ban is likely to continue until the birth of his second child, expected in January -- though a series triumph over the Black Caps could seriously challenge his willpower.

"A lot of that decision (to stop drinking alcohol) was mostly to try and get through England and our summer to give my body the best opportunity (to do that)," Warner was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

"Also it helps when you've got your wife who's seven months pregnant now, and (with) her not being able to have alcohol, it's more about achieving a goal for myself to see if I can actually go her full term with not having alcohol.

"I'm going well so far but I think I might need one after this game.I didn't (have one last night). It (would've been) quite easy to open one up, but I think if I'm going to, a Test series win definitely might bring one on," he said.

Warner was out in the opening half hour of play on the second morning, adding nine runs to his overnight total to become just the 12th Australian to post a Test match 250.

After toiling fruitlessly on Day One, Kiwi pacer Trent Boult got the breakthrough, inducing an edge that flew to Mark Craig at second slip.

It was the first time in his Test career that Warner has batted out the day.

"It wasn't really in the back of my mind to try to achieve (batting a full day), it was more about trying to take the singles on offer," he said. "That allowed me to achieve batting out the day for the team and I think that's what it comes down to; if the fields are a little bit more attacking, you can play your shots a bit more and might create the chances.

"There were odd occasions where Brendon did bring the field back in but for us it was about rotating the strike and that was the crucial thing (getting) us to 2-400."

Warner also conceded that he benefited from a beautiful batting wicket on the first day that offered little for the Black Caps' four-man pace attack.

"The key factors here as well are the types of wickets we're playing on," he added. "They're nice and generous for batsmen and the bowlers really have to work hard.

"We know in Australia if you're a batsman you really have to cash in. We're fortunate enough to play on very good wickets, and I think around the world the wickets are pretty batter friendly today, but as a batsman you still have to score the runs."

(IANS)