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It has been said many times in the past and it will be said many times in the future: cricket, as the second Test between the West Indies and Australia at Sabina Park underlined, is a game of glorious uncertainty.

After losing 5-0 to South Africa without scoring 300 in any innings and losing the first Test against Australia by 312 runs in under four days, and after looking down the barrel at 34 for four on the first day at Sabina Park, the West Indies batted through the second without losing a wicket.

They went on to rattle up 431 and nailed Australia, the unofficial world champions, by 10 wickets with almost two days to spare.

In what was a fantastic performance, the West Indies left their fans singing and dancing and with visions of other victories in the third and fourth Test matches, almost shouting, this is our game, Australia here we come.

Is it the beginning of the revival? Should Australia take the warning seriously? It may well be; and despite Australia's quality, and although they still remain favourites to win the series, they should.

The Windies, however, have not yet redeemed themselves. As manager Clive Lloyd said after the victory, one swallow does not make a summer, and there is still need for some good young batsmen.

The victory, however, especially the manner in which it was achieved and the decisiveness of it, may be just what the doctor ordered to instill some confidence in the players - to motivate the stars and to inspire the young players.

The key to the West Indies success in this series is Lara, both as a captain and as a batsman - and he seems to realise that.

As the captain, Lara appears to have learnt his lesson and certainly on the field, he is now acting like a leader. He is now talking with his players, exchanging ideas and motivating them.

As a batsman, Lara seems prepared and motivated, and with the star batsman on whom so much depends in such form and in such a mood, with Carl Hooper and Shivnarine Chanderpaul expected back, with Australia in a daze after Lara's brilliant assault, anything is possible.

Whatever happens from here on, the fans will never forget the second Test of 1999 - the Test in which Lara thrilled them with a dazzling display, James Adams turned up with a gritty and invaluable performance, Courtney Walsh continued his unrelenting march towards the world record number of wickets in a career and Nehemiah Perry celebrated his Test debut with some fine offspin bowling.

It was cricket West Indian style. The batting, especially on the second day when Lara and Adams hammered 340 runs, was brilliant and exciting and the attack, a lovely variety of two right-arm fast bowlers, one left-arm swing bowler and an aggressive spin bowler, was almost the perfect combination.

It was cricket, lovely cricket played on a pitch which, after the problems of last year when the Test match was abandoned and despite the cracks which opened up at the southern end after two days, was what old-timers call a good cricket pitch.