Mathew Sinclair (right) and James Mackie. Photo / File
Try as he may, Mathew Sinclair can't help gravitating towards cricket in some shape or form.
This summer the former Black Caps cricketer returns as a player/coach for the Hawke's Bay senior men's representative team.
Retiring from all forms of domestic cricket nine months ago, the Napier veteran, who turns 39 in November, had a job as a sales assistant for a fishing and hunting shop but five weeks ago he was made redundant.
Now a media posterboy of what youngsters aspiring to become Black Caps or White Ferns shouldn't do, Sinclair is again picking up the tools of a trade he's most familiar with to help pay his mortgage and feed his family.
"It seems natural to play while I still can," says the veteran who was the mainstay of the Central Districts Stags side and holds myriad records for the major association.
He intends to become a real estate agent for Harcourts Ltd so sitting exams "asap", rather than the normal 3 to 6-month timeframe, is imperative.
"It'll be a quick start to selling houses on a commission basis and people tell me I have a pretty good profile in Hawke's Bay."
Sinclair says Hawke's Bay Cricket Association (HBCA) approached him initially to coach in the part-time paid position and he had responded to an advertisement after discussing it with wife Tina.
He replaces Lincoln Doull who was at the coaching helm for four summers.
HBCA CEO Craig Findlay says the association is delighted to secure Sinclair's services on a one-year contract.
" ... his main point of difference is he's still a very fine player and will contribute on the field as a batsman as well as off it as the team's coach," says Findlay.
"We believe he will galvanise and enthuse those around him and pass on the considerable knowledge he has accumulated from his long and storied professional career."
A two-day match between Napier and Hastings early next month will be a trial match before the Bay men begin their campaign to defend the Chapple Cup (CD inter-district) one-day competition on October 17-19 at Nelson Park, Napier.
The other goal is trying to win back the Hawke Cup, the symbol of minor association supremacy, which the Michael Mason-coached Manawatu hold.
But Sinclair says the team will be without the services of captain Jacob Smith, who has secured employment as development officer at an Auckland cricket club, and Seb Langridge who has also returned to his hometown of Auckland.
"So it's important for me to start influencing the Bay rep team," he says, enjoying the support of Findlay, HBCA high performance and development manager Dale Smidt and CD Hinds coach Mike Shrimpton.
Sinclair is also involved with Findlay and Shrimpton in running an International Cricket Academy of Hawke's Bay and New Zealand which offers specialist coaching from Ross Taylor (batting), Jesse Ryder (opening batting in T20 and one-dayers), Kruger van Wyk (wicketkeeping), Mark Greatbatch (fielding/team work) and Shrimpton (spin/pace bowling) at a half-season cost of $5750.
It's a bonus, he says, knowing the Bay senior players but agrees such familiarity can be a two-edged sword although he sees that as a challenge.
Ex-Black Cap Mason's success with Manawatu for the past two years inspires him.
The pathway for coaches in their mould, he feels, is also a boon for CD in creating a natural progression with ex-players.
Some Bay players are plying their trade overseas so it is an opportune time for him to enter the environment to help youngsters, especially the batsmen, to aspire to play first-class cricket.
"The way things are going in CD too many roles are set in concrete," Sinclair says of his chances of coaching at CD level anytime soon.
However, he feels he's equipped for the Bay role because he has been the player/coach of the Marist premier men's team for two summers.
"I have been playing cricket every year and done my job so these players can tap into that to be successful like I have been."
Writing off the knowledge gained playing for almost two decades to do other things following a nine-month break seems a waste.
Former Bay rep and CD training squad member Jeremy Kuru, a speed merchant, was back in town and keen to play for higher honours.
On the flip side Sinclair's keen to work with youngsters such as Graeme Tryon and Angus Schaw as well as established premier club talent Indika Senarathne.
Sinclair has signed a one-season contract, preferring to reassess his performance despite his undying passion for the game.