David Warner insists he’s mellowed and is no longer Michael Clarke’s attack dog for Australia

DAVID Warner aims to be less abrasive towards opposing players, so he can become even more productive and explosive with his bat.

KINGSTON, JAMAICA - JUNE 10: David Warner of Australia poses at the Kingston Cricket Club at Sabina Park on June 10, 2015 in Kingston, Jamaica. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

DAVID Warner says he wants to conserve his energy for the bulging schedule of cricket ahead — which is good and bad news for his opponents.

The Australian opening batsman aims to be less abrasive towards opposing players, but hopes that withdrawing from his role as Michael Clarke’s “attack dog” will enable him to concentrate solely on being even more productive and explosive with his bat.

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“There’s times when you need to try and keep quiet, but what people perceive me on the field as ... the ways I’ve approached the game on the field the last couple of years, I created that myself,” Warner told espncricinfo.

“I’m always in the heat of the battle. I’m always the one who’s going at the batters — (I’m) not saying I’m not going to do that, but every opportunity there is out there it always seems to be cameras on me.

“So I’ve got to be smarter, on my game, and make sure I don’t get too carried away with being in that moment. Now at 28, almost 29, I’ve got a daughter I love dearly. Settling down and maturing can happen on the field as well. My goal for ... hopefully I play longer than five years ... is to be the person who gets that respect from people.”

David Warner poses at the Kingston Cricket Club at Sabina Park.

Only two years ago, almost to the day, Warner hit his nadir when he punched England’s star young batsman — now Test vice-captain — Joe Root in a Birmingham bar in the early hours of the morning. He was banished for part of that Champions League and Ashes tour.

He also has been involved in frequent on-field spats and was described by former New Zealand captain Martin Crowe as “the most juvenile cricketer I have seen”.

Warner’s change in fortunes appears to have coincided with meeting ironwoman Candice Falzon, 30. They became parents to Ivy Mae last September and were married in April, shortly before Warner flew out for the Indian Premier League, then to the West Indies for the current Test series.

Before the second Test started, he had played 37 Tests for 3169 runs, made at a strike rate of 75 per 100 balls, at an average of 47.29. In 62 one-day games (2047 runs at 34.69), his strike rate is 89.5. In Twenty/20s (52 for 1444 runs at 29.46) he scores at almost 139 per 100 balls.

Warner told espncricinfo he had to take responsibility for the levels of gamesmanship in which he indulges.

“It’s up to me to deal with that,” he said. “In the past I’ve been someone who’s been told to go out there and do this and do that, but at the end of the day I’ve got to look after myself, and that’s what everyone does.

Warner says fatherhood and marriage have made him a changed man.

“There are people who do talk and don’t talk on the field. If I don’t want to be that instigator, I don’t have to be that instigator. So time will tell. I’ve learned a lot over the last five years.”

Warner said his new approach had even rubbed off on his interaction with his teammates in the West Indies.

“I’ve quietened down a little bit around the guys, and it’s more about myself for the longevity of my career and giving your all when you’re actually out there for Australia,” he said.

He also is hoping the results will be up in lights on scoreboards around the world.

“The challenge for me is to turn hundreds into big hundreds and not to be content and complacent when I’m out there,” Warner said.

“I need to keep working hard as I can in these conditions to try to bat time as an opening batter. It’s great to be 1 or 2-250, but I want to be the person who’s there when we’re 400 or 500.”

And if that happens, it’s Warner who will become the target.

Originally published as David Warner insists he’s mellowed and is no longer Michael Clarke’s attack dog for Australia