What off-season?
Otago Cricket Association chief executive Mike Coggan will be quietly wondering that to himself this week.
He has had to delay a break and roll up his sleeves.
He is busy reviewing a season in which the Sparks were tremendous and the Volts so-so.
The long-awaited winter marquee will arrive from Lincoln soon and be ready for action as early as September.
And the association is looking for a replacement for Simon Forde. There is a shortlist of five candidates for the role of general manager performance.
But the highlight this summer was the resurgent the Sparks. They exceeded expectations by reaching the final of the Super Smash and the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield.
Wellington was too good in the T20 final. But the Sparks turned the tables on their opponent in the one-day final, winning by 138 runs.
Incredibly the Sparks had not won a one-dayer in the two years prior.
Coggan was thrilled with the result but even more pleased with the development of the players.
"The results are only a part of the focus for us," he said.
"It is an important focus and winning trophies is something which excites people.
"But it is also about getting better at what we do and making sure we are doing everything possible to make sure players reach their potential, whether that be the White Ferns or the Black Caps."
Spinner Eden Carson and swing bowler Emma Black made big strides towards playing international cricket, while Caitlin Blakely and Polly Inglis are now starting to string consistent performances together at domestic level.
The Volts struggled, particularly in the white-ball format.
There is an obvious vacancy for a quality seam bowling all-rounder. That will top priority during the recruitment push.
But Coggan was confident the team was heading in the right trajectory under new coach Dion Ebrahim.
Coggan did not want to be drawn on who Otago was talking to, but Black Cap Glenn Phillips is moving south to play for the Volts next season and Dean Foxcroft is in the frame for a role, too.
They are two quality batters, but it was the departure of all-rounder Nathan Smith to Wellington this season who left the biggest hole in the squad.
"We know we have a little bit of a gap there when it comes to that quality all-rounder. All the other domestic sides have that covered with one or two players, so we know there is some areas where we need to strengthen that squad."
Luring someone south should be a bit easier when the winter marquee is in place.
It has been on the wish list for a couple of years. There was some backwards and forwards over a location.
But the OCA and the Dunedin City Council have settled on Tonga Park and the cricket marquee in Lincoln will be relocated to the site.
"It is a costly exercise, but our performance programme for the first time will have access to grass [all year round]."
Coggan hopes the facility will be available for use from September 1.
It is 48x18m marquee made from a similar material to the roof at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Another important piece of business is appointing a new general manager performance.
Coggan said he was very pleased with the "calibre of candidates" and hoped to have someone in place by mid June.
Coggan will be joined on the interview panel by former Otago cricketers Nathan McCullum and Martyn Croy and a representative from New Zealand Cricket.
