“I’ve always really loved playing within our Hawke’s Bay team environment and that’s what makes you come back,” Stoyanoff said.
“Your best mates are in the team and being out there with them is what keeps you coming back in good times and bad times.
“Sometimes the toughest times are the most fun times and they end up becoming the stories that you tell and the moments that you look back on.”
He was set to give representative cricket away at the end of last summer, with an infant now at home and growing responsibilities at work.
But when you’re poised on 95 games for the province and there’s the Hawke Cup in the trophy cabinet, it’s hard not to want to give it one last burst.
For many years there was also the incentive of adding to the one Plunket Shield appearance Stoyanoff made for Central Districts, back in 2019.
But, as the years have worn on, that dream faded and he was content to be the best husband, father, teacher and Hawke’s Bay teammate he could.
Since making his representative debut as a 17-year-old Napier Boys’ High School student, he’s taken 179 wickets, at an average of 23.34, which puts him fourth on the province’s all-time list of wicket-takers behind Stuart Duff, David O’Sullivan and Angus Schaw.
And then there’s his batting.
As always, all statistics are provided by the Hawke’s Bay Cricket Association’s patron, and statistician, Harry Findlay, who provided some of Stoyanoff’s career figures under time pressure.
Findlay was rushing to watch grandson Toby play for Central Districts against Auckland at McLean Park and wasn’t able to run a fine-tooth comb over every figure, including that Stoyanoff’s career run scoring aggregate was just nine.
“That’s not quite true. He’s left off a digit there,’’ said Stoyanoff.
“I’ve scored 98 career runs and I’ve got 179 wickets, which seems to be amusing for quite a few players in the team.
“But, in my defence, quite often I will be the non-batter in the Furlong Cup games, so I’ll put it down to not having the opportunities.”
Almost a year to the day, though, Stoyanoff was definitely required to bat, surviving 43 deliveries to allow Toby Findlay to go past Manawatu’s first innings total and, ultimately, retain the Hawke Cup.
The last-wicket pair put on 55 to stave off a potential first-innings defeat.
“It was a partnership, but I still scored zero,’’ a chuckling Stoyanoff said.
“That was my best innings for Hawke’s Bay, probably.’’
It’s with the ball that he’s likely to again make his biggest impact and he’s not bothered about what kind of pitch is prepared at Nelson Park this weekend because, whenever it is that Stoyanoff’s career comes to an end, it’s the long, hard days in the dirt that he’ll remember most fondly.
“It can be hard work, but I actually love bowling there,’’ he said.
“Regardless if it’s a flat one or a nice bouncy wicket, it’s your home ground and you know what to do there.
“You’ll have your great times and you’ll have your tough times, where you have to grind away and be out there on your feet for a day and a half. Those can actually be really enjoyable.’’
Hawke’s Bay coach Christie van Dyk has named the same 12 which beat Whanganui a fortnight ago, with the team to again be captained by Dominic Thompson.
Hawke’s Bay: Jono Whitley, Baylee Foote, Thomas Zohrab, Brad Schmulian, Bayley Wiggins, Dominic Thompson, Sam Cassidy, Todd Watson, Josh Fairbrother, Charlie Robson, Liam McCarthy, Ben Stoyanoff.
Hawke’s Bay had started poorly in their defence. Halfway through the second session on Friday they decided to declare at 59/7, and had Taranaki 5/1 after 5 overs.
* This article is provided courtesy of Hawke’s Bay Cricket Association
