Cape Town - Proteas wicketkeeper/batsman Quinton de Kock has to back himself if he wants to combat Black Caps spinner Jeetan Patel, according to his team-mates.

De Kock has been silenced in the past three games against the Black Caps since the call-up of off-spinner Patel.

Patel, who played the final two ODIs as well as the first Test in Dunedin, has dismissed De Kock in each of his last four innings.

De Kock has made 0, 6, 4 and 10 in those knocks.

De Kock has now been placed under scrutiny when it comes to dealing with the off-spinner with some of the press dubbing the 24-year-old as 'Jeet's Bunny'.

However, there's no alarm in the Proteas camp, as opening batsman Dean Elgar believes that all De Kock needs is some love and support to get him back to his explosive self.

"I think 'Quinny' just needs to back himself," Elgar told reporters on Sunday.

"He's a naturally gifted cricketer and he just has to have that mindset from now on.

"The welcoming thing is that the families arrive soon so I think it's going to be a good thing for him to get away from the game.

"He just needs to trust his cricket ability and we've just got to give him a bit of love."

Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis told the press after the drawn Test on Sunday that he was confident that De Kock would find his form again during the remainder of the Test series.



"You can look at the stats and see that he (Patel) has gotten him out a few times, but for me when you have the quality of Quinton de Kock, you have to back his skill to survive," said Du Plessis.



"If you had a guy who wasn't that skilful, I would be worried but a guy like with that much talent - you'd back him to find his way."