Of course, there was that sabbatical a few years back when he went to a test at Lord's and then on to India with the Volts.
That places him somewhere on the spectrum, probably, but for the most part Lovelock is your garden variety enthusiast who just wanted to stay involved in the game after his playing days had wound up.
''I would say I've just always been a really keen follower of cricket,'' the 44-year-old said.
''I don't have any weird or obscure collections, so I'm not too overboard on it. I try not to be too much of a nut.''
Nutty is one thing Lovelock certainly is not. He is the managing partner at Webb Farry Lawyers and a devilishly busy man. He is about to get even busier.
He was confirmed in the role of manager yesterday and, as a result, will spend a lot less time in the office this summer. He is not abandoning his post, though.
''It is not a case of leaving [my job] for the summer; it is a case of doing some juggling,'' he said.
''There will be times I can get back in here [the office] and that is the intention.
''It is amazing what you can make work.''
To be fair, Lovelock has been fitting his passion around his work for a long time. He got involved with Otago cricket shortly after hanging up his bowling boots seven years ago.
He applied for a role on the board of the Otago Cricket Association and was elected. And then, in 2011, he was named as a selection manager. He has been nipping out of the office ever since.
''It is an area I've always been passionate about. When I was a kid, my bedroom wall was covered in cricket posters.''
Lovelock grew up on a sheep and beef farm in Tapanui idolising New Zealand great Martin Crowe and quite a few of the Australian players of that era.
He attended Blue Mountain College, where he had a stint as captain of the First XI. A medium pace bowler, he played his first senior game when he was just 13. It was for the Waikoikoi Cricket Club and his dad was playing as well.
Lovelock had playing stints in Invercargill, Oamaru and Dunedin and, towards the end of his career, played Hawke Cup cricket for North Otago.
''I used to compare myself to Gavin Larsen, which is probably a bit unfair on Gavin Larsen,'' he laughed.
''When I stopped playing, I still wanted to be involved with the game. I umpired for a season. It was a really good challenge but I found I did not enjoy it as much as I had enjoyed playing, so it did not feel quite right.''
He married his wife, Pauline, 22 years ago and the couple have two children - Erica (19), who works in Central Otago at a vineyard, and Ben (18), who is in year 13 at John McGlashan College.
Lovelock is part of a strong management team who will assist rookie coach Nathan King.
Former Otago player and selector Simon Forde was yesterday confirmed as the assistant coach and former players Craig Cumming and Warren McSkimming will be called in when required to assist with specialist batting and bowling coaching.
Forde is taking leave from his job as a detective with the New Zealand Police to assume the role.
The association has been through a lot of change in the past six months. New captains have been appointed, and there is a new coach and a new chief executive.
And with Lovelock and Forde taking time out from their jobs, it does pose the question what will happen next summer.
''I can only speak for myself, but I'll be wanting to do my best to serve in any way I can, which is going to be helpful moving forward.''
Lovelock is looking forward to the season and is positive about Otago's prospects of picking up one of the three titles on offer.
''The organisation as a whole has really embraced the challenge that is ahead of it. And if you look at the Volts specifically, I think there is a lot of enthusiasm. There are good people in place who have Otago in their veins. It matters to them and they are passionate about it.
''We've recruited well and will have a strong squad when it comes together [in October]. We have no excuses. We should be able to perform really well.''
