His private life may look a mess, but his opponents should beware, Shane Warne will not let his off-field problems over the break-up of his marriage and the trail of kiss-and-tell stories bobbing in his wake interfere with his preparation for his final Ashes series in England.
He has everyhope that Australia's dismantling of England will continue.
Warne insists that his private life has not fallen apart quite as badly as England's one-day hopes.
The Australian leg-spinner, 35, recently separated from Simone, his wife of 10 years and the mother of his three children, but he stressed that they are still on speaking terms and that his family, who moved from Melbourne to Hampshire this year, would continue to support him throughout the series.
"I'm very lucky actually, we're still very good friends. We speak every day or just about, and I speak to the children every day, so I'm sure she will be very supportive."
Warne's problems have cost him his commentary contract with Australia's Channel Nine, worth A$300,000 ($332,000) a year, and he acknowledged how difficult life had been.
"It's obviously been a tough time for me. Having your private life splashed all over the place is disappointing, and it's tough, but my major focus is on the Ashes. I think that is one of my strengths as a cricketer. Over the years I have just been able to overcome any obstacle.
"I'm not sure the off-field stuff and the publicity is getting me down. As far as I am concerned I am actually doing okay and I am looking forward to the first test [starting on Thursday]."
His mood is backed up by statistics. Warne, the highest test wicket-taker with 583, has 41 first-class victims so far this season, putting him third in the English list. He has also hit two centuries.
