Andrew Symonds successfully adhered to a self-imposed booze ban before his return to the sporting arena - a social rugby league match.
The banished test cricketer has revealed not one drop of alcohol passed his lips for four days before playing for Wynnum-Manly in an All-Stars social match in Brisbane.
Three weeks after being sent home from England in disgrace after breaking team rules by drinking in public just days before the World Twenty20, Symonds showed more discipline preparing for his league outing on the weekend.
"The night before the game I was very excited and sort of struggled to get to sleep," the 34-year-old told Brisbane radio station Nova.
"And a few days leading up [to the game] it was strictly lots of veggies and a fairly lean diet, and I swore myself off alcohol for about four days. I was pretty keen for this game."
If Symonds had treated Australia's Twenty20 tournament preparations as seriously, it's fair to assume his Cricket Australia contract would remain intact and he'd be in the mix to replace Shane Watson in the Ashes squad.
But the Queensland swashbuckler, who intends continuing his career as a globe-trotting import, has no regrets.
"I am enjoying life," he said. "I can be my own person and do what I want to do.
"I feel like I've had a huge weight lifted off my shoulders and I'm enjoying life."
While Symonds got on the drink by himself in London celebrating Queensland's State of Origin win in game one, he was gearing up for game two last night with a "seafood shindig" with mates. His name won't be on Queensland Cricket's list of contracted players when they announce it today but he's still considering turning out for the Bulls next season.
"Now I have to clear my head and make up my mind how much cricket I want to play and who for," he said.
"Obviously I've got other interests, I'm passionate about my league and fishing and that so hopefully in the next little bit I'll have a clear plan as to what I want to do."
An impressive schoolboy rugby three-quarter and a part-time trainer with the Brisbane Broncos, Symonds wants to play the 13-man code again.
"I'd love to play again, that was just to get the cobwebs out. It would be great to have another run because a lot came back to me after playing the other night."
- AAP
