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 frequently go undetected by cricket fans - are all that are required for analyst Dean du Plessis to communicate what is taking place to his audience.


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


"Commentating by noise is absolutely nothing magnificent," he states.


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


Speaking to BBC Sport, Du Plessis describes 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 noise of cricket


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


But he was not constantly a fan of the sport.


"My bro Gary was a very, great cricketer but I didn't comprehend the game when I was young," he states.


"Nobody actually took time out to describe cricket to me and I actually hated and loathed that with an enthusiasm."


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


In 1991, South Africa took a trip to India in what was their readmission to global cricket with the country's apartheid program pertaining to an end.


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


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


"And vaguely through the sound of cheering and fireworks far, you could hear a commentator trying to tell 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 little bits about cricket however I didn't understand about backwards square leg and things like that.


"But I started to listen and actually enjoy it. I don't understand why since I didn't understand what they were saying, however every time it chose four or a six, I could feel the enjoyment building."


Phoning cricket stars and 'being an insect'


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


While the contemporary sports fan may direct message Ben Stokes or tag Jofra Archer, Du Plessis would quite just search 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 would not go out and simply wishing to talk cricket with these players," he states.


"I was a real insect and the main poor victim was bowler Eddo Brandes, he was a chicken farmer and often 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 morning.


"He 'd be a bit bad-tempered initially once he was up and awake he was very, extremely happy to chat. I likewise used to phone Alastair Campbell who was really kind to me as were both the Flower bros, Grant and Andy."


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


"Dave was simply a fountain of details, however what I actually value was he didn't just 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 analyst


Having finished his studies, Du Plessis returned to Zimbabwe with a network of superstar cricket friends.


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


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


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


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


"It was implied to simply be a brief conversation on my pleasure of cricket however Neil got an e-mail from the workplace midway through," he says.


"The manufacturers wanted to keep me on for the full thirty minutes and ensure I was a part of the rest of the series.


"Which's quite much how my commentary began. I then got my first television gig two years."


How does he do it?


Du Plessis is typically asked how he handles to determine what is taking place on the field.


"Well, I do not have any additional technology or additional stump mic or anybody telling me what's going on," he answers.


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


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


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


Du Plessis can also figure out which batter is on strike through the noise of their voice, and the direction in which the ball is struck by the noise it scampers the bat.


"In terms of batting you simply listen extremely thoroughly to how the batters communicate with each other," he says.


"When Andrew Strauss and Marcus Trescothick utilized to bat together, Trescothick would always simply state "run" when he hit the ball whereas Strauss would state "Yeah come on, begin, begun".


"And when the ball is struck through the off side, it has a very sharp, crack sound, instead of the ball being played through the leg side.


"I can also tell when sweep shots are being played due to the fact that you can hear the bat hitting the ground with a scraping noise."


'I believe I have actually found my specific niche'


A life time of listening to cricket paired with the capability to acknowledge people by noise, touch and odor has enabled to Du Plessis to create a successful profession as a broadcaster.


A presenter of his own cricket podcast, he states his commentary work might need to take a rear seats due to health reasons.


"I believe I will have to do less of the commentary which's mainly due to the fact that I have actually lost rather a bit of my hearing, particularly in my left ear," he discusses.


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


"But I believe I have found my niche in hosting, providing and doing podcasts. I would like to advance my broadcasting profession and possibly emigrate from Zimbabwe, preferably to a cricket-playing country."


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