Provincial cricket - Back in Stag heaven

Radiant sunshine, mate's bach at Waimarama, helping wife unwrap the kids' pressies and watching the sprogs squeal in delight after finding boxer shorts under the tree.
What else could a man ask for during the Christmas and New Year holidays?
If you're Mathew Sinclair, brace yourself.
It's the void only the Central Districts Stags can fill.
It's not that wife Tina and their children - 19-month-old Liam and 6-month-old Holly - consciously fall into some sort of hierarchical family pyramid of importance but cricket is, after all, a huge part of the man's repertoire in summer.
Tina Sinclair would be the first to admit she would have been happy to see his back.
It's the preferable option to tripping over her morose hubby as he is reduced to armchair status, hooked either to the TV or the New Zealand Cricket website's live scoreboard during the business end of the Stags' HRV Cup Twenty20 campaign.
"It was tough because I'm CD's No 1 contracted player," the 35-year-old former Black Cap says before getting back on track to help CD begin their one-day campaign against the Canterbury Wizards at Mainpower Oval, Rangiora, from 11am tomorrow, before hosting the Northern Districts Knights at Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North, on Wednesday.
The dreaded tap on Sinclair's shoulder from CD coach Alan Hunt came soon after the Stags' rain-affected, 10-over victory against the Wizards in the T20 competition on Sunday, December 19.
"I don't know. I suppose it's the changing nature of things," the Australian-born from Napier says, revealing he did reflect on his career while sifting sand through his toes at Waimarama beach.
"You're not in the first-class side and you wonder how much future have I got now with a new management and a coach.
"You know, the 'R' word came up quite a bit," - that's retirement more than recreation.
The gifted veteran right-hander boasts two test double centuries, as well as 150 against South Africa, and 30 first-class tons. He was awarded the MVP title in the 2008-09 domestic season.
Quite often falling foul of selectors because of his forthrightness, a candid Sinclair last season found himself back in his country's colours.
His test career had stalled following the 2007 test against England in Napier, amid acrimonious sparring with selectors via the media.
Inarguably, Sinclair only came into the equation of former coach Mark Greatbatch after ex-Bay cricketer Jesse Ryder's ill discipline.
Come tomorrow, the Napier Old Boys' Marist player is keen to simply score runs on the foundation of some self-belief.
"The break was also a good time to reflect, come back refreshed and a good chance to perform," he says, adding it is the longest break he's had from cricket.
A sense of camaraderie is vital to put his mind in a happy place where enjoyment again will become a key motivator.
That the game is a 50-over means his temperament will come to the fore in building on last season's bumper innings.
"We're right there in the four-day game [Plunkett Shield leaders] and we made it to the final of the Twenty20 so it's a good chance to win the one-dayer too."
Plunket Shield batsman Tim Weston and Auckland newcomer leg spinner Tarun Nethula are the non-T20 players in the 12 Hunt and co-selector Scott Briasco named yesterday.
Former Black Cap allrounder Jacob Oram is also in the line-up after an inauspicious late start to the HRV Cup campaign.
Jamie How is at the helm of the Stags.
BOTH TEAMS
For the national one-day competition against Canterbury tomorrow at Mainpower Oval, Rangiora, and the Northern Districts at Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North, on Wednesday:
* CD Stags: Jamie How (c), Doug Bracewell, Peter Ingram, Michael Mason, Mitchell McClenaghan, Adam Milne, Tarun Nethula, Jacob Oram, Mathew Sinclair, Kruger van Wyk, Tim Weston, George Worker.
* Canterbury Wizards: Todd Astle, Hamish Bennett, Dean Brownlie, Andrew Ellis, Carl Frauenstein, Peter Fulton (c), Tom Latham, Rob Nicol, Michael Papps, Richard Sherlock, Shanan Stewart.