That's because the selection and ensuing success of veteran opening batsman Peter Fulton, scheduled to play in last night's opening test match against England at Lords, has understandably rekindled the flame of the older brigade once picked then thrown into a scrap heap of unwanted openers in previous regimes.
Hamilton says Black Caps coach Mike Hesson had expressed interest in How's performance at the end of last summer and also spoken with him and former coach Alan Hunt about the CD opener.
The right-hander has played 19 tests, making his debut in 2004-05 after amassing 704, 682 and 592 runs in the three seasons leading up to his selection.
In March 2003, he had the highest first-class score of 163 not out and 158 in back-to-back innings against Northern Districts and Canterbury, respectively.
With 92 as his highest test score and averaging 22.70 with four half tons, How became the late replacement for an injured Fulton to the tour of South Africa in May 2006.
However, Dale Steyn twice had his number cheaply in the Johannesburg test.
The veteran of 41 ODIs had the highest score of 139 in the limited-overs version, including seven 50s, averaging 29.05.
He made his one-day international debut against Sri Lanka in 2005 with 58 runs before forging a partnership of 136 runs with former opener Nathan Astle against West Indies that year but his next four ODIs only yielded 17 runs.
It wasn't until 2007-08 in Napier that How carved up his ton against England on the heels of 90 and 76 on tour of South Africa.
The player, who made his domestic debut in 2000-01, went on to captain the Black Caps on the start of their England tour because Daniel Vettori was competing in the IPL in India.
Last summer, How racked up a national record of 222 runs in a one-day Ford Trophy match for a career average of 31.32.
He also has a safe pair of hands, amassing 135 first-class catches mostly in the slip cordon and 76 List A ones.
Hamilton says How is working on improving a few things with his batting over winter until the new CD coach is appointed later this month, before setting his goals for next summer to consolidate his form.
Nevertheless, a rash of CD players are playing abroad this winter. Ex-Black Cap wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk is plying his trade at Amsterdam, in The Netherlands.
Roald Badenhorst is in the north of England while former Black Caps seamer Adam Milne left last night for Essex.
"Graham Napier is there so he'll try to get in touch with Milney to see if he can get him some training with the A team," he says of Napier, who played for CD but left early two summers ago because of an injury.
Milne is playing at a level where he can control his workload and pace himself.
Ben Smith, who moved to the Bay last summer, is with Bristol Cricket Club (south of England) where ex-Black Cap and Stag Hamilton played for five years in the Western English Premier League.
"I've spoken to him and he's into his third game there like Roald so he's enjoying himself," says Hamilton whose revised role includes keeping communication channels open with the Stags in the New Zealand off season.
"It's also a good life experience for the youngsters.
"It's time away from mum, dad and home for the first time so it's good for them to have some independence.
"It's great for them to be playing cricket because it beats being indoors."
Seamer Andrew Mathieson has returned to Darwin, Australia, for his second season.
CD skipper Kieran Noema-Barnett's plans to play at a Scottish club fell through so he'll be working with ex-NZ coach Mark Greatbatch in Napier.
Anthony Sharp has crossed the floor to the Auckland Aces as fitness trainer so CD have employed Nick Webb who was at the helm of the New Zealand Warriors for four years.
"Nick started in April and has set up a gym programme for the boys."
Seamer Bevan Small is recovering from rib surgery - "his lower rib was rubbing against his pelvis so he was bowling with a lot of pain" - and should be ready to resume this summer.
Carl Cachopa, who also caught the eye of national selectors as a future prospect, is off to Christchurch next week to attend a New Zealand A camp in preparation for their tour to the subcontinent in August, while CD opener Jeet Raval is part of a wider training group next month. CD spinner Tarun Nethula is recovering from a stress fracture of the back but is swimming and doing aerobics training in Auckland.
"He got married three weeks ago in Auckland so I attended huis wedding," Hamilton says.
