That is the period where the game traditionally goes into a holding pattern.
All the action tends to happen at the end. It is the same with planning a cricket season. Before the team at Otago cricket can really start planning the next campaign, it needs some clarification concerning several issues.
New Zealand Cricket is expected to name the 20 players to whom it will offer contracts on Monday.
Otago could do well. Both the McCullums - Brendon and Nathan - should retain their contracts. Neil Wagner picked up Jacob Oram's contract when he retired and it seems likely his name will be among the 20. Room will have to be made for Black Caps and Otago opener Hamish Rutherford and Otago seamer Ian Butler might be an outside chance.
All going well, Otago could have five cricketers on its books without having to use one of its 14 available slots.
The player transfer window begins on July 19. Players wishing to switch associations have a week to make up their mind if they have not already.
The six major associations will offer contracts to at least nine players or as many as 13 on July 26. The second round of contracting, which will bring the squads up to a maximum of 14, is scheduled for August 9.
''Until we know who is contracted nationally, it is a bit hard to start thinking about it too much,'' Otago Cricket chief executive Ross Dykes said.
''I think there will be some changes [to New Zealand contracts] and I would like to think we would benefit. We could get as many as four or five national spots. Hamish Rutherford must be right in the mix ... and Butler could be knocking on the door.''
Dykes indicated there was not likely to be too many changes to the Otago list of contracted players. Veteran left-arm seamer Bradley Scott has returned to the province, while batsman Darren Broom has returned home to Canterbury.
Promising batsman Ryan Duffy, brother of opening bowler Jacob Duffy, could benefit with a contract if Rutherford is contracted nationally.
Meanwhile, planning for Otago's second appearance in the Champions League in India has also stalled.
The association is still waiting for clarification as to which warm-up games it will be expected to play in India before the qualifying tournament gets under way on September 16. And before Otago can settle on a final squad of 15, it needs to ascertain whether its imports, Ryan ten Doeschate, Brett Lee and James Fuller, will be available.
The other unknown is what shape the domestic season will take. It will fall into place once the international schedule has been planned. With the West Indies and India touring New Zealand this summer, Dykes is hopeful the University Oval will attract at least one test.
''We are hopeful of getting a test match but there has been nothing released to us yet.
''I would like to think we'd hear within a couple of weeks, because dependent upon that is the domestic draw as well.''
