Dean Du Plessis: The First Visually Impaired Commentator To Cover International Cricket

19 May 2021


ByKal Sajad
BBC Sport


The grunt of a bowler's shipment, the shuffle of the batsman's feet and the crunch of willow striking leather.


These noises - which typically go undetected by cricket fans - are all that are needed for commentator Dean du Plessis to relay what is occurring to his audience.


The 44-year-old Zimbabwean, who was born with tumours behind both retinas, is the first aesthetically impaired analyst to cover worldwide cricket.


"Commentating by sound is nothing amazing," he decently says.


"I have a feed from the stump microphone, no other innovation, and simply listen really, extremely carefully; as much as sighted individuals pay attention to what they're seeing, that's what I do."


Talking To BBC Sport, Du Plessis explains the origins of his love for cricket, his journey into the commentary box and the strategies he uses when calling the action.


Falling in love through the sound of cricket


Du Plessis holds true cricket aficionado, whose commentary is typically complemented with the most obscure stats from years gone by.


But he was not always a fan of the sport.


"My bro Gary was a really, excellent cricketer however I didn't understand the video game when I was young," he says.


"Nobody really took time out to discuss cricket to me and I in fact hated and loathed that with a passion."


Born in Harare, Du Plessis later went to study at boarding school in South Africa which is where his attachment to cricket initially emerged.


In 1991, South Africa travelled to India in what was their readmission to worldwide cricket with the nation's apartheid program coming to an end.


"I was listening to the third match of the series on Radio 2000, South Africa's equivalent to Test Match Special," Du Plessis says.


"All I heard was sound, that's all I can describe, it was just a sound of about 60 or 70,000 Indian fanatics cheering and also constantly releasing fireworks.


"And slightly through the sound of cheering and fireworks far, you could hear an analyst trying to inform you what was going on and I didn't comprehend what he was stating.


"It was something like 'in comes Donald to Tendulkar, through square leg, past the umpire, down to backwards square leg, the fielder selects up and they run through for a single'.


"I knew bits about cricket but I didn't understand about backward square leg and things like that.


"But I began to listen and actually enjoy it. I do not understand why since I didn't comprehend what they were stating, however every time it opted for four or a 6, I could feel the excitement structure."


Phoning cricket stars and 'being a pest'


As Du Plessis' affection for the game grew, he set off on an objective to connect to his new-found heroes.


While the modern sports fan might direct message Ben Stokes or tag Jofra Archer, Du Plessis would quite simply look for Zimbabwe cricketers in the local phone book.


"I would then have their number and phone using a call box from school, hoping my money wouldn't run out and just wishing to talk cricket with these gamers," he says.


"I was a real bug and the primary bad victim was bowler Eddo Brandes, he was a chicken farmer and sometimes I would call him after I had finished school at 8pm and he needed to literally be up with the chickens at three or 4 o'clock in the early morning.


"He 'd be a bit irritated in the beginning however once he was up and awake he was very, extremely going to chat. I also utilized to phone Alastair who was very kind to me as were both the Flower bros, Grant and Andy."


But it was previous Zimbabwe batsman David Houghton - now head coach at Derbyshire - who Du Plessis really struck up a relationship with.


"Dave was simply a fountain of info, but what I really appreciate was he didn't simply address my concerns however he would ask all about me too," includes Du Plessis.


"Once my money was about to run out and he requested for my number to call me back, and we promoted a good 20 minutes."


From fan to commentator


Having completed his research studies, Du Plessis went back to Zimbabwe with a network of superstar cricket buddies.


"It was the cricketers - the Flower bros, Houghton, Campbell, Brandes - that made me feel really, very welcome and would invite me to come see them play," he states.


Du Plessis quickly ended up being a routine at national premises and, having actually been offered the flexibility to walk the media centres, was rubbing shoulders with broadcasters and cricket press.


During an international triangular series in between Zimbabwe, India and West Indies in 2001, he was invited to sign up with reporter Neil Manthorp, who was on old school friend, and former India batsman Ravi Shastri for a 15 minute chat on the Cricinfo website's online radio broadcast.


Du Plessis' understanding and enthusiasm impressed both the broadcast group and those back at headquarters.


"It was indicated to just be a brief discussion on my satisfaction of cricket however Neil got an email from the workplace halfway through," he says.


"The producers desired to keep me on for the complete 30 minutes and ensure I belonged of the remainder of the series.


"Which's pretty much how my commentary started. I then got my very first television gig 2 years."


How does he do it?


Du Plessis is often asked how he handles to recognize what is occurring on the field.


"Well, I do not have any additional innovation or extra stump mic or any person informing me what's going on," he addresses.


"I can tell you who the different bowlers are by the method they approach the crease.


"With Stuart Broad, for instance, there's a little bit of a dragging noise as the ball is delivered he offers an explosive grunt as he gets to the wicket.


"Some approach the crease extremely silently, like Freddie Flintoff who hardly made a noise, whereas Shane Warne, as a leg-spinner, had a substantial grunt."


Du Plessis can likewise identify which batter is on strike through the sound of their voice, and the direction in which the ball is hit by the sound it escapes the bat.


"In regards to batting you just listen very thoroughly to how the batters interact with each other," he says.


"When Andrew Strauss and Marcus Trescothick utilized to bat together, Trescothick would constantly just say "run" when he struck the ball whereas Strauss would state "Yeah come on, come on, begun".


"And when the ball is hit through the off side, it has an extremely sharp, fracture sound, as opposed to the ball being played through the leg side.


"I can likewise inform when sweep shots are being played because you can hear the bat hitting the ground with a scraping sound."


'I think I have actually found my specific niche'


A life time of listening to cricket combined with the capability to acknowledge people by noise, touch and odor has actually allowed to Du Plessis to create a successful career as a broadcaster.


A presenter of his own cricket podcast, he states his commentary work might require to take a back seat due to health factors.


"I believe I will need to do less of the commentary which's generally due to the truth that I've lost a fair bit of my hearing, especially in my left ear," he explains.


"Apparently that's a common thing with blind people because we use our ears so enthusiastically.


"But I believe I have actually discovered my specific niche in hosting, presenting and doing podcasts. I would like to progress my broadcasting profession and perhaps emigrate from Zimbabwe, ideally to a cricket-playing country."


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