Ottis Gibson says he has tried to make the Proteas dressing room a calm, fun environment.

Gibson, who replaced Russell Domingo as Proteas head coach after their 3-1 Test series defeat in England, has won his first three Test series in charge, against Bangladesh (2-0), India (2-1) and Australia (3-1).

‘I’ve enjoyed my first six months, it’s been quite an experience,’ said Gibson. ‘We won eight out of 10 Test matches. We won two big series. The same way the players set goals, the coaches set goals for the team too. The goal for the Test team was to try and get to No 1. We know where we are in that space.’

The Proteas are now just four rating points behind No 1-ranked India, with the defeat in the third Test at the Wanderers ultimately preventing them from regaining the Test mace.

ICC Test rankings

‘The way the team has welcomed me into the dressing room [was great],’ Gibson added. ‘Sometimes, as an overseas coach or foreigner, when you come into a new environment, you don’t know how it’s going to be upfront. I’ve been myself. I am how I normally am – I try to enjoy myself, have a little fun, and try and take the pressure out of the dressing room.

‘There’s rum and coke in the dressing room – not at lunchtime – there’s music and it’s quite a chilled-out place.’