Melbourne: Australian opener David Warner has credited fiancee Candice Falzon for making him focus on his cricket and helping him mature not only as a person but also as a player.
Warner, who is enjoying his first Christmas as a father, feels that the responsibility of the two relationships has made him more disciplined in his approach.
"I've got a child now. I've got to be a bit more responsible. Candice has pulled me into line, getting me into a routine," Warner was quoted as saying in Sydney Morning Herald.
"When I've got a bit of downtime it's either spending time with my family, or going out to the gym and doing a bit of extra work," he added.
Warner, who has scored 1096 Test runs this calender year at an average of 68.50, was once known for his wild ways when he punched Joe Root in a Birmingham bar during the 2013 Champions Trophy. But the 28-year-old left-hander said that those are things of the past.
"Just making use of that time (responsibly). Not what I used to do - hanging with my mates and going to the pub to watch some sport."
Having overcome a thumb injury, Warner will be look to make it count in the Boxing Day Test starting tomorrow and said that controlled aggression is now his mantra.
"Going after the bowlers, but knowing when to rein it in," he said.
Warner noted team psychologist Michael Lloyd and batting coach Michael Di Venuto have helped him to do just that.
"They've helped me enormously over the last 12 months," he said.
