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 delivery, the shuffle of the batsman's feet and the crunch of willow striking leather.


These sounds - which typically go by cricket fans - are all that are required 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 visually impaired analyst to cover global cricket.


"Commentating by noise is nothing amazing," he modestly says.


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


Speaking to BBC Sport, Du Plessis discusses the origins of his love for cricket, his journey into the commentary box and the techniques he uses when calling the action.


Falling in love through the sound of cricket


Du Plessis holds true cricket enthusiast, whose commentary is frequently complemented with the most odd stats from years passed.


But he was not always a fan of the sport.


"My bro Gary was an extremely, great cricketer but I didn't comprehend the video game when I was young," he says.


"Nobody really took time out to explain cricket to me and I in fact disliked and hated that with an enthusiasm."


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


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


"I was listening to the 3rd match of the series on Radio 2000, South Africa's equivalent to Test Match Special," Du Plessis states.


"All I heard was noise, that's all I can explain, it was simply a sound of about 60 or 70,000 Indian enthusiasts cheering and likewise continually letting go fireworks.


"And vaguely through the noise of cheering and fireworks far, you could hear an analyst trying to inform you what was going on and I didn't understand 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 however I didn't understand about backwards square leg and things like that.


"But I began to listen and truly enjoy it. I do not know why since I didn't comprehend what they were saying, but whenever it went for 4 or a 6, I could feel the excitement structure."


Phoning cricket stars and 'being a pest'


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


While the modern sports fan might direct message Ben Stokes or tag Jofra Archer, Du Plessis would rather just look for Zimbabwe cricketers in the local telephone directory.


"I would then have their number and phone utilizing a call box from school, hoping my money wouldn't go out and just wanting to talk cricket with these players," he says.


"I was a real bug and the primary poor 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 had to literally be up with the chickens at three or four o'clock in the morning.


"He 'd be a bit grumpy initially but once he was up and awake he was extremely, very happy to chat. I also utilized to phone Alastair Campbell who was extremely kind to me as were both the Flower brothers, Grant and Andy."


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


"Dave was just a water fountain of details, however what I actually appreciate was he didn't simply answer my concerns however he would ask everything about me too," includes Du Plessis.


"Once my money will go out and he asked for my number to call me back, and we promoted a good 20 minutes."


From fan to analyst


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


"It was the cricketers - the Flower siblings, Houghton, Campbell, Brandes - that made me feel extremely, very welcome and would welcome me to come view them play," he says.


Du Plessis soon ended up being a routine at nationwide grounds and, having actually been provided the freedom to stroll around the media centres, was rubbing shoulders with broadcasters and cricket press.


During a global triangular series between Zimbabwe, India and West Indies in 2001, he was invited to join journalist Neil Manthorp, who was on traditional buddy, and former India batsman Ravi Shastri for a 15 minute chat on the Cricinfo site's online radio broadcast.


Du Plessis' understanding and interest impressed both the broadcast team and those back at headquarters.


"It was indicated to just be a brief conversation on my enjoyment of cricket but Neil got an email from the office midway through," he says.


"The manufacturers wanted to keep me on for the full 30 minutes and make certain I belonged of the remainder of the series.


"And that's practically how my commentary started. I then got my very first tv gig two years."


How does he do it?


Du Plessis is often asked how he manages to determine what is taking place on the field.


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


"I can inform you who the various bowlers are by the method they approach the crease.


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


"Some approach the crease very silently, like Freddie Flintoff who barely made a sound, whereas Shane Warne, as a leg-spinner, had a big grunt."


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


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


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


"And when the ball is hit through the off side, it has a very sharp, crack sound, rather than the ball being played through the leg side.


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


'I believe I have actually found my niche'


A life time of listening to cricket paired with the capability to acknowledge people by sound, touch and smell has allowed to Du Plessis to forge a successful career as a broadcaster.


A presenter of his own cricket podcast, he says his commentary work may need to take a rear seats due to health factors.


"I think I will have to do less of the commentary which's generally due to the fact that I've lost quite a bit of my hearing, specifically in my left ear," he describes.


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


"But I believe I have discovered my niche in hosting, providing and doing podcasts. I would enjoy to progress my broadcasting career and perhaps emigrate from Zimbabwe, ideally to a cricket-playing nation."


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