Dean Elgar is undoubtedly “shocked” with Quinton de Kock’s decision to quit Test cricket all of a sudden, hours after South Africa’s loss in the first Test in Centurion.

“I was pretty shocked. But sitting down with Quiney, he explained his reasons, and I respect and fully understand his decision.

“Our responsibility is to carry and conduct ourselves as international players. We still have a task of levelling the Test series, so I don’t think there will be any hangover or shock over Quiney’s retirement,” Elgar said on the eve of the second Test in Johannesburg.

“Players respect the environment. We realise that we’ve had a few setbacks in recent times and we need to obviously be clever around it and get over it.”

In place of De Kock, Kyler Verreynne is set to don the wicketkeeping gloves.