It was tipping it down with rain in Aberdeen on April 14, so there is little doubt that Scotland's cricketers will be crossing their fingers, as they venture into a new season, fearful of any repeat of the incessant deluges which devastated the so-called summer last time around.

The winter has hardly been kinder, so pitches will be closer to pudding bowls than possessing such qualities as pace and bounce when the action commences in the Pro Series later this month. Yet, if the elements relent, there are plenty of reasons to be excited by what is the busiest-ever fixture schedule for Scotland's elite performers.

The Scots tackle Pakistan twice and Australia and they have crucial matches against Kenya and Ireland in the Intercontinental Cup and the World Cricket League. A decade after Rahul Dravid joined the Saltires on their entry to what is now the CB 40 competition, the Saltires bow out of the event, which is being revamped for 2014.

At club level, the likes of Carlton, Watsonians, West of Scotland and Dumfries will be determined to build on recent success, while the likes of Greenock and Aberdeenshire will be striving to transform their fortunes. It promises, if the heavens permit sufficient dry weather or, praise be, sunshine, to develop into an absorbing summer.

Here, in the second of an exclusive three-part series, we reveal what some of the Scotland's leading players, coaches and officials are hoping for in the new campaign.

RODDY SMITH (CHIEF EXECUTIVE, CRICKET SCOTLAND).

"2013 is going to be an exceptionally busy summer on all fronts. With the advent of the new Pro Series, and increased A team fixture list and the national side playing both Pakistan and Australia in ODIs and Australia A as well, there will be no shortage of big games. With the last year of the CB40 tournament and our crucial ICC games against Kenya and Ireland thrown into the mix, there will be significant opportunities for all our best cricketers to show what they can do. World Cup qualification is at stake for the Under 19s, and the senior men in the 20 and 50 over formats, so this season will be a crucial one. My hopes for the year for the international sides are that we qualify for these events and continue to push forward our best young players.

"Domestically, I hope we have a hard fought competitive league and cup season with our clubs continuing to develop their structures and improve their facilities. It is very pleasing to note the number of clubs now employing coaches and promoting their young players into their senior sides and I hope this continues in 2013."

STEVE KNOX (FORMER SCOTLAND INTERNATIONALIST AND COACH OF THE NEW REIVERS TEAM)

"My hopes for the new season are that the national governing body's marketing department starts to show a lot more imagination, proactivity and thinking outside the box in order to popularise the sport and the national team throughout the country. Otherwise the hundreds of people involved in tirelessly promoting the sport throughout the country are going to be merely doing a "firefighting" role rather than being part of a thriving, growing national summer sport."

KARI CARSWELL/ABBI AITKEN (SCOTLAND WOMEN'S MANAGER/NATIONAL CAPTAIN).

"It has been a busy and productive winter training for the Scotland women's squad over the past few months. Commitment, dedication and a willingness to better our game has been very much apparent at our sessions leading into the summer.

"Some of the women benefitted from the pre-season tournament out in the UAE where some intense cricket was played against some high quality opponents - this a fantastic learning curve for all who participated and an experience that has really helped in our preparations.

"Our first fixtures are arguably the biggest of the season, as we are due to face Japan. Although this is a friendly fixture we are really looking forward to playing the match as it is a chance to face a country we are unfamiliar with and know little about on the cricket pitch. This season we will be competing in division 3 of the ECB County Championships. We will be looking to putting all our hard-work and efforts over the winter into practice and will hopefully be looking to secure a few wins in the competition.

"Our squad is balanced with a mixture of experience and youth. We have a couple players back from injury, as well as a few additional players that will be joining the team on loan for the summer. The competition for places within the squad is fierce - a position that we haven't really been in before, however the girls are aware there is a lot of hard work to be done and everything to play for.

"I am extremely eager to begin the season on a high, and hope that the girl's efforts and good spirits during the winter will be carried through into the summer. There is a real buzz and energy about the girls at the minute and I am hopeful of a good season this year. The potential in the women's game in Scotland is constantly evolving and I am very proud to play a part in Scottish Women's Cricket at this point in time. Coaching with the women is a massive honour, and I am very much looking forward to it."

DAVE CHRISTIE (FREUCHIE STALWART AND CAPTAIN OF 1985 NATIONAL VILLAGE CUP FINAL AT LORD'S).

"It has been pretty difficult getting the pitch ready for cricket and I've got the pitch covered with fleece at the moment. first match won't be until April 27 and it is just so cold that nothing is growing at the moment.

"From a team perspective, we've lost one or two players to Glenrothes, and they have signed up guys from us, from Dunfermline, from Largo and elsewhere - I gather that they have 70 players on their books and are going to be running four sides this summer. It's good for them, but we'll have to see how it affects everybody else in the area.

"We will still be aiming to field three XIs and going into the Village Cup competition as usual. But it has been a difficult 18 months and it will just be good to get out and enjoy some cricket if we get the chance."