NSW have urged Test spinner Steve O'Keefe to follow the example of David Warner, who is now renowned for his marvellous on-field actions rather than his misdeeds off it.
O'Keefe was fined $20,000 and banned from this year's domestic one-day tournament last month, when he directed "highly inappropriate" drunken comments at a woman during the after-party of Cricket NSW's awards night.
It was O'Keefe's second alcohol-related offence in the past nine months under Cricket Australia's code of conduct. The 32-year-old had only recently returned from the subcontinent, where he spun Australia to their first Test win in India since 2004.
Cricket NSW chief executive Andrew Jones says O'Keefe, who is being given time and space during the players' leave period, will be "embraced" when he returns to pre-season training next month.
NSW have made it clear the left-arm tweaker, who welcomed the chance to receive specialist counselling, has plenty of work to do as he attempts to regain respect and retain his spot in Australia's Test XI.
They are themes that Warner learned all too well during a series of incidents in 2013.
The opener's bar-room scrap with Joe Root is widely seen as the turning point of his career. However, Jones oversaw another disciplinary matter later that year involving Warner.
Warner, who is now Australia's teetotalling vice-captain, decided to have a private training session and day at the races instead of playing for grade side Randwick Petersham.
"You want to punish the behaviour but you want to support the person," Jones said.
"Four years ago we had a minor issue with him (Warner) and that was the nature of the discussion ... we're not interested in being in a fight with any of our players.
"We want to see you focus on getting 10,000 Test runs because that's what you're capable of. You've got special powers, go and use them for good and let's stop having these sorts of discussions.
"To his credit he's 5,000 runs down the track.
"We want to see something similar from SOK.
"He built up a lot of credit points over the years ... he needs to build them back up again."
O'Keefe missed out on a national contract and faces an uphill battle to dislodge Nathan Lyon from the Test side during this summer's Ashes. Selectors' view of the finger spinner will become clear should Australia's two-Test tour of Bangladesh proceed later this year.
"I haven't spoken to him for a couple of weeks ... but we're in contact with his manager. He (O'Keefe) is, you know, ups and downs," Jones said.
"When the time comes he'll be back and ready to go.
"He'll be embraced by Cricket NSW. We regard him as part of the family."
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