It was not that many expected Scotland to beat Yorkshire in yesterday's Benson and Hedges Cup tie - Scotland had won only two of their previous 62 contests in 19 years in the competition but that this was the start of the most momentous year in the country's cricket history.
Apart from their four games in the last year of the B & H, Scotland will also defend their Triple Crown, play Bangladesh and Australia A, compete in the Commonwealth Games and the European Cup and, most important of all, prepare for next year's World Cup.
There is nothing new about cricket in Scotland. There is a famous painting of a match in Alloa which took place in 1785. But they have been going places in recent years, particularly since winning associate membership of the ICC in 1994.
Former Yorkshire and England batsman Jim Love, Scotland's director of cricket, said yesterday: ``We have 50 days' cricket this year to prepare everyone for the World Cup.
``The employers have been fantastic but we are looking for more time off. Now we are starting to pay compensation, buying blocks of time off for the players, but there are still problems. Mike Smith, one of our best players, will not be available for our remaining B & H games.
``Australia and Bangladesh will each be here for about 2.5 weeks. We play for the European Cup in Holland in July and before that there is the Triple Crown, against Ireland, Wales and an England amateur team.''
Scotland have won this particular pot three times in five years. Then there is the NatWest Trophy, the annual fixture at Lord's and, in September, the Commonwealth Games in Malayasia.
Love is also hoping for a rule change so that players like Gavin Hamilton (Yorkshire) and John Blain (Northants) can play for Scotland in the World Cup and Commonwealth Games without disqualifying themselves from the England team for four years, which is presently the case.
It was local boy Hamilton, 23, who caused early problems for Scotland yesterday. Returning to his home ground, he produced Yorkshire's most economical figures, with two for 13 in seven overs.
On a low, slow pitch, Scotland made 168 for seven, with Bryn Lockie top scoring with 48. Yorkshire were in comfortable command at 74 for two. But then they lost three wickets in six deliveries as captain David Byas, Darren Lehmann and Craig White perished in the space of five runs. At the halfway stage Yorkshire were a rocky 85 for five.