The Tigers' form heading into the series is hardly impressive, having suffered a 2-0 humbling against New Zealand last month when their fragile batting was exposed as both Tests ended inside three days.
However, Siddons is in positive mood heading into the two-Test series following the performance of his batsman who appeared for the Bangladesh Board XI in their warm-up match against the Proteas in Fatullah earlier this week.
Against a full-strength Proteas bowling line-up the Bangladeshi batsman compiled 412 for nine with 20-year-old opening batsman Junaid Siddique pressing his claims for selection to the Test team with a well-crafted 103.
Shakib Al Hasan added 73 and Aftab Ahmed 45.
"The batsmen scored runs, but it was a warm-up match not a Test match," Siddons told The Daily Star after the match."It is important to see some runs on the board but it's also important for us to see in which way we scored the runs. We would need more of a patient approach."Despite Siddons' optimism, South Africa arrived in Bangladesh as arguably the form team in Test cricket having recorded home series wins against New Zealand and West Indies to follow on from their triumph in Pakistan.Graeme Smith's side will also be eager to cast off the off-field controversy that surrounded their squad selection for the tour.A row between coach Micky Arthur and Cricket South Africa president Norman Arendse erupted after Arthur presented his team of 14 players for approval, only for Arendse to rejected the list as it did not contain at least seven players of colour in accordance with the governing body's policy.However, Arendse and chief executive Gerald Majola later issued an apology to Arthur when they admitted "full responsibility for not handling the issue in a manner that preserves the integrity and reputation of the sport."Smith, who was named South Africa captain ahead of their previous tour of Bangladesh in 2003, is confident his team can adjust to the the slower conditions of the sub-continent despite the lacklustre nature of his team's bowling performance in Fatullah."We have played together for the last three months and I am confident that we are strong enough to adjust to any conditions and play for the best possible outcome," he said.
"We have come here after a very successful home series (against West Indies). The confidence of my team is good as we have played a couple of good series against Pakistan and then against New Zealand and West Indies at home."
The Proteas will sweat on the fitness of paceman Andre Nel, who remains a doubtful starter after he sustained a hamstring injury during the one-day series against West Indies, while they are unlikely to go with two spinners with Johan Botha expected to get the nod ahead of Robin Peterson.
Veteran spinner Mohammad Rafique is set to return to the Bangladesh line-up for what will be his final Test series.
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