AB de Villiers, Graeme Smith’s likely successor, expressed shock over his captain’s sudden retirement.
Smith will hang up his boots at the end of the ongoing Test series decider in Cape Town against Australia, and only told players of his decision after play on day three.
Smith led the Proteas for over 10 years and leaves a huge leadership void in the world No.1 Test side.
Coach Russell Domingo suggested he had an inkling something may be around the corner, but Smith’s teammates were caught unaware and most expected the 33-year-old to bat on until the one-day World Cup next year.
“I thought he had another year or two in him,” de Villiers told Cricket Australia TV before the start of play on day four.
“Each guy’s situation is different. Maybe it’s a good time for him to move on, he’s obviously got his personal reasons.”
De Villiers is the Test side’s vice-captain and also the nation’s one-day skipper, making him Smith’s most obvious replacement in the role.
However, Faf du Plessis is captain of the national Twenty20 team and his leadership is highly rated by Cricket South Africa.
“I’m not sure. We’ll have to wait and see what happens,” de Villiers said of whether he would take over the Test captaincy.
“I’ll have a few discussions with the coach and team selectors. If it does come my way it’d be a huge honour.”
Australia were unwilling to take too much of their focus away from a potential first Test series win on foreign soil since April, 2012.
But a statement released by the team mentioned their “great respect” for Smith.
“He has been an extremely hard player on the field but a complete gentleman off it,” it said.
“(He) led the team extremely well through both good times and bad for more than a decade.
“It is a great testimony to his leadership that South Africa has enjoyed an extended run as world No.1 over the last couple of years.”