On an Australian sporting landscape often linked with a drinking culture, a rising star with a difference has emerged in WA cricketer Jhye Richardson.

The 21-year-old fast bowler, who will attend the Allan Border Medal in Melbourne tonight before travelling to South Africa with the Australian Test squad tomorrow, is a teetotaller who has challenged others to be who they want to be in the face of peer pressure.

“Part of it is daring to be different,” Richardson said yesterday. “Especially in the changerooms, if I’m sipping on a Coke Zero and they’re having a beer, it doesn’t change anything at all.

“It’s just not something I wanted to get into and it shouldn’t change people’s opinions about you.”

Richardson said he chose to stay away from alcohol because he did not like the looks or effects of drunkenness when his then-teenage peers started to experiment.

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He admitted feeling out of place when several teammates quizzed him about his decision not to drink alcohol, but they had since fully supported him.

The State Government’s Alcohol Think Again campaign is a key part of the WA Cricket Association’s branding.

“Obviously, cricket has had quite a big drinking culture, but now no one expects me to drink and it’s almost got to a point where the guys steer me away from it if I get the urge to take a sip,” Richardson said.

“I’m grateful for that, knowing I can still fit into the team really well — knowing I don’t have to change who I am to accommodate that.”

Richardson said abstaining had a positive effect on his physical cricket preparation as he closes in on a dream Test debut, which could come in South Africa.

“It’s not daunting,” he said.

“It’s another step forward for me and I’m really enjoying it.

“The main thing for me is not taking it for granted.”