Allrounder Kieran Noema-Barnett has predictably returned to England for his county cricket campaign season but Jesse Ryder is staying back with the Central Districts Stags.
"I'm not sure [if Ryder's going to back to county] but he's keen to play as much cricket as he can for us so if he gets an opportunity to play [county] he'll look into that," CD coach Heinrich Malan said before today's four-day Plunket Shield match away against the Auckland Aces.
"At this stage he's looking forward to spending his winter in Napier to get some proper work to be 100 per cent fit to be in a state to form consistently," he said of the 32-year-old former Black Caps cricketer who played for Essex.
Last month, the left-hander posted a record opening-wicket partnership with George Worker in round one of the Ford Trophy (50-over) format after grappling with his injury demons.
However, injuries also have taken hold of the CD squad members with Black Caps Ben Wheeler, Liam Dudding, Ryan McCone, Doug Bracewell among those on the list.