Exclusive: Russell Domingo on how the Proteas can bounce back in the WTC from Dhaka

South Africa is consistent in the white-ball format having reached the semifinal of the ODI World Cup, and the final of the T20 World Cup. And now, the players will be keen on having a crack at the World Test Championship final as they have five Test matches remaining in the ongoing cycle.

India (68.06), Australia (62.50), Sri Lanka (55.56) and New Zealand (44.44) are currently in the top four, while South Africa stands sixth with a PCT of 38.89. The Indians are playing the Kiwis in a three-match home series before they fly to Australia in November. Sri Lanka will travel to South Africa after the Proteas' tour of Bangladesh which started in Dhaka, Mirpur on Monday. 

The second Test starts October 29 in Chattogram

Former Proteas coach Russell Domingo, who also coached Bangladesh for three years, assessed how South Africa can climb up in the WTC table. He threw light on how the presence of world-class bowlers like Keshav Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada makes a difference.

"When bowlers like Maharaj, Rabada, Anrich Nortje, and batters like Aiden Markram come together, they are a team to beat," Domingo told SportsBoom.com on the sidelines of the first Test between Bangladesh and South Africa.

Nortje, however, did not get picked for this tour. Cricket South Africa decided to rest Gerald Coetzee and Marco Jansen who are on their last lap to recover after picking up injuries earlier this year.

How SA can do it in Mirpur

Bangladesh have often struggled in Mirpur. In the last Test, against New Zealand which it lost, spinners Ajaz Patel and Mitchell Santner ripped through their batting department. It was no different on Monday morning when left-arm spinner Maharaj (3/34), and speedsters Rabada (3/26) and Wiaan Mulder (3/22) shared nine wickets as the Proteas dismissed Bangladesh for 106 and ended the day at 140/6. 

Domingo is hopeful that South Africa will earn 24 points from the series before hosting Sri Lanka and Pakistan at home. Plus, Bangladesh may need time to settle under new coach Phil Simmons who arrived after the dramatic sacking of Chandika Hathurusingha before the start of the two-match Test series. "Mirpur could present a good opportunity for South Africa. At times, Bangladesh has struggled under those conditions, and they have a new coach now too," he said.