Queensland teammates say Symonds has still enjoyed an occasional beer this season but has now sworn to drink responsibly and make cricket preparation his No.1 priority.

Symonds'' axing from the national side also shattered his once great friendship with former best mate and Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke.

He now concedes he had not shown Clarke enough respect - an apparent reference to an argument the pair had in a bar in the West Indies this year.

"I did something silly with him one night and I suppose I was a bit disrespectful to him," Symonds said.

"That relationship is still alive, but to be perfectly honest it is not what it was. We are both making efforts to get it back to where it was because it''s a friendship I want to keep."