RAMNARESH Sarwan will have mixed memories of South Africa when he looks back on the year 2003.
In March, he defied medical advice by returning from hospital after being hit on the helmet in a vain attempt to steer his side to a World Cup victory over Sri Lanka in Cape Town.
And he ended the year with a magnificent Test century in Durban after being felled early in his innings by a Makhaya Ntini bouncer.
It looked like the 23-year-old might be making another trip to accident and emergency as he lay on the turf.
This time, however, a check-up and a few soothing words from team physio Sunit Liebenberg were all that was necessary before he was given the all-clear to continue his innings.
Sarwan may need to improve his technique against the short-pitched ball by keeping his eye on it for longer and not turning his head away.
But his status as the best young batsman in Caribbean cricket - and a future West Indies skipper - is without question.
The glorious strokeplay he displayed against South Africa would have delighted former captain Carl Hooper, who first spotted Sarwan as a 14-year-old in their native Guyana.
"He told me that one day I would be playing for the Windies. After he said that to me I started to look at the game completely differently," Sarwan told BBC Sport last year.
He made his Test debut against Pakistan in May 2000, aged only 19, and left no-one in any doubt of his potential by batting for over five hours in the first innings for an unbeaten 84.
There were plenty more promising innings over the next few series, but Sarwan's inability to progress from 50 to 100 was a worry.
"I would say the main reason for my getting out is lack of concentration, coupled with bad shot selection at times," he admitted.
After 14 half-centuries, he finally made it to three figures against Test cricket's friendliest attack to score 119 against Bangladesh in Dhaka.
Friendly is not a word that could be applied to the fourth Test against Australia in Antigua in May this year.
Already 3-0 up, the Aussies were pressing for a whitewash and a verbal confrontation between Sarwan and fast bowler Glenn McGrath served to add extra spice to proceedings.
Ultimately it was Sarwan who had the final word, making 105 off 139 balls as West Indies made a record fourth innings score of 418 to win by three wickets.
With a Test average of just under 40, there is room for improvement before he can be ranked alongside the illustrious names of the past.
But his elevation to the vice-captaincy under Brian Lara is a clear indication that the West Indies Cricket Board sees him as a player that teams will be built around in future.
Sarwan himself is in no hurry.
"To captain the West Indies would be a dream come true. I just don't want to be thrown in at the deep end and then I might drown."
The job could be his by the time the World Cup arrives in the Caribbean in 2007 - providing he remembers to keep his head down in the intervening period.