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 noises - which typically go unnoticed by cricket fans - are all that are required for commentator Dean du Plessis to communicate what is happening to his audience.


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


"Commentating by sound is absolutely nothing magnificent," he decently states.


"I have a feed from the stump microphone, no other technology, and just listen really, really thoroughly; as much as sighted individuals pay very close 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 techniques he utilizes when calling the action.


Falling in love through the sound of cricket


Du Plessis is true cricket fanatic, whose commentary is frequently complemented with the most unknown stats from years gone by.


But he was not constantly a fan of the sport.


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


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


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


In 1991, South Africa travelled to India in what was their readmission to international cricket with the nation's apartheid program coming to 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 describe, it was just a sound of about 60 or 70,000 Indian enthusiasts cheering and also constantly letting off 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 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 chooses 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 began to listen and actually enjoy it. I do not know why because I didn't understand what they were stating, but whenever it opted for four or a six, I might feel the excitement structure."


Phoning cricket stars and 'being an insect'


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


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


"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 players," he says.


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


"He 'd be a bit irritated at very first once he was up and awake he was very, really ready to chat. I likewise used to phone Alastair Campbell 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 truly struck up a relationship with.


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


"Once my cash was about to go out and he requested for my number to call me back, and we spoke for a great 20 minutes."


From fan to analyst


Having finished his studies, Du Plessis went back to Zimbabwe with a network of super star cricket pals.


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


Du Plessis soon ended up being a regular at national grounds and, having actually been offered the liberty to walk the media centres, was rubbing shoulders with broadcasters and cricket press.


During a worldwide triangular series between Zimbabwe, India and West Indies in 2001, he was invited to sign up with journalist Neil Manthorp, who was on traditional pal, and previous India batsman Ravi Shastri for a 15 minute chat on the Cricinfo website's online radio broadcast.


Du Plessis' knowledge and interest impressed both the broadcast group and those back at head office.


"It was implied to just be a short discussion on my satisfaction of cricket however Neil received an e-mail from the workplace midway through," he states.


"The manufacturers wished to keep me on for the complete thirty minutes and make certain I was a part of the remainder of the series.


"And that's practically 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 manages to identify what is happening on the field.


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


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


"With Stuart Broad, for example, there's a 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 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 instructions in which the ball is struck by the sound it the bat.


"In regards to batting you simply listen really thoroughly to how the batters communicate with each other," he states.


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


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


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


'I think I have actually discovered my specific niche'


A life time of listening to cricket combined with the capability to acknowledge individuals by sound, touch and odor has actually allowed to Du Plessis to forge a successful profession as a broadcaster.


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


"I think I will need to do less of the commentary and that's generally due to the truth that I have actually lost a fair bit of my hearing, particularly in my left ear," he discusses.


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


"But I think I have actually found my specific niche in hosting, presenting and doing podcasts. I would enjoy to advance my broadcasting career and possibly emigrate from Zimbabwe, ideally to a cricket-playing nation."


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