South Africa coach Gibson chases top Test spot

South Africa coach Ottis Gibson said today his goal is to take the team to the number one spot in Test cricket.

"The same way that players set goals, coaches also set goals. The goal for the Test team is to try to get to number one," he said in a Cricket South Africa interview.

The former West Indies player, who has had coaching stints with West Indies and England, said series victories over India and Australia were satisfying -- but just part of his overall goal.

Gibson was appointed South Africa head coach after helping England beat the 'Proteas' in a series in England last year in his role as bowling coach.

His stint started with easy wins over Bangladesh and Zimbabwe before South Africa, second in the International Cricket Council rankings, took on top side India and third-ranked Australia in successive home series.

"To win these two series, especially this one with all the other noise that has been going on, is quite rewarding," he said, referring to the controversies that surrounded the Australia tour.

Australia captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were sent home and banned for their roles in ball tampering during the third Test.

"I have enjoyed my first six months," he said. "It has been quite an experience, we have won eight out of 10 Test matches, and we won two big series."
"In every game we got better as we went on and we have seen some fantastic performances from young players like Aiden Markram leading the batting and KG (Kagiso) Rabada leading the bowling."