The former England international is sporting one or two more wrinkles these days and there is the odd splash of grey in the beard.
The 34-year-old also had an extended spell on the sidelines when he tore his Achilles in March last year. For a period he wondered whether he would be able to return to the sport but he got back on the park in May this year for his county side, Hampshire.
"It was a tough time and I wasn't sure if it was ever going to get better," Mascarenhas said.
"But now it is good enough to play. You'll see me limping around out there occasionally but it is good enough."
Off the field there are no such worries. He married Nadine in February and the couple have a 3-month-old boy Lenny.
Fatherhood suits Mascarenhas. A broad smile touches his eyes when asked about life off the park. "A lot has happened. I got married and had a baby boy so it is all good. Life is pretty good at the moment and I'm enjoying it."
The University Oval has undergone a few changes too.
The pitch block has been relayed and the playing surface expanded. Not that Mascarenhas could tell. The boundary still looks pretty inviting to the big hitter.
"It is a lovely ground and I love playing here. It is certainly a good ground to play twenty/20 cricket on."
Mascarenhas and his family arrived in Dunedin on Monday night. Nadine had never been to New Zealand before and it felt like the perfect opportunity to have a Christmas abroad.
Mascarenhas will play for Otago in the twenty/20 competition and was a popular member of the squad when he was last here in 2008-09.
He had pretty good summer too. Otago played some exceptional twenty/20 cricket and won the title. Mascarenhas was a key part of that success. He opened the bowling and came in quite high in the order with a licence to thrill.
In seven games, he scored two 50s and averaged 27.16, and took seven wickets at 25.85. Otago reached the final of the one-day tournament that season as well but saved its worst game for last.
"I absolutely loved it here last time I was here and it is great to return. I've always followed how the boys have been going over the years and I saw last year they didn't do too well in the twenty/20s. Hopefully, I'll be able to do something to help them do better than last time.
"We have a pretty good squad and a different captain this year so things might be a little bit different."
Brendon McCullum will return from international duty to captain Otago and, with players such as Nathan McCullum, Ian Butler, Aaron Redmond, Neil Broom and Craig Cumming in the side, the Volts boast an experienced line-up capable of so much better than last season's last place.
Otago opens its twenty/20 campaign against Central Districts at the University Oval this Sunday.
