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 needed for commentator Dean du Plessis to communicate what is occurring to his audience.


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


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


"I have a feed from the stump microphone, no other innovation, and just listen extremely, 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 explains the origins of his love for cricket, his journey into the commentary box and the methods he uses when calling the action.


Falling in love through the sound of cricket


Du Plessis holds true cricket aficionado, whose commentary is often matched with the most obscure statistics from years passed.


But he was not always a fan of the sport.


"My bro Gary was a very, 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 actually disliked and loathed that with a passion."


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


In 1991, South Africa travelled to India in what was their readmission to global cricket with the nation's apartheid routine 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 explain, it was just a noise of about 60 or 70,000 Indian fanatics cheering and also constantly releasing fireworks.


"And vaguely through the sound of cheering and fireworks far away, you could hear a commentator trying to tell you what was going on and I didn't comprehend what he was saying.


"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 understood bits about cricket however I didn't understand about backwards square leg and things like that.


"But I started to listen and truly enjoy it. I don't understand why because I didn't comprehend what they were stating, however whenever it opted for 4 or a six, I might feel the enjoyment structure."


Phoning cricket stars and 'being an insect'


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


While the modern-day sports fan might direct message Ben Stokes or tag Jofra Archer, Du Plessis would quite just search for Zimbabwe cricketers in the regional telephone directory.


"I would then have their number and phone utilizing a call box from school, hoping my money wouldn't run out and simply wanting to talk cricket with these gamers," he states.


"I was a real bug and the primary poor victim was bowler Eddo Brandes, he was a chicken farmer and often I would call him after I had actually ended up school at 8pm and he had to actually be up with the chickens at 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning.


"He 'd be a bit irritated in the beginning once he was up and awake he was very, extremely ready to chat. I also utilized 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 fountain of details, but what I truly appreciate was he didn't simply answer my concerns but he would ask all about me too," includes Du Plessis.


"Once my cash will run out and he requested my number to call me back, and we spoke for a good 20 minutes."


From fan to analyst


Having completed his research studies, Du Plessis returned to Zimbabwe with a network of super star cricket buddies.


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


Du Plessis soon ended up being a routine at nationwide premises and, having been provided the liberty to stroll around 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 journalist Neil Manthorp, who was on old school good friend, and previous 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 team and those back at head office.


"It was implied to simply be a short conversation on my satisfaction of cricket but Neil got an email from the office midway through," he states.


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


"And that's pretty much how my commentary started. I then got my first tv 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 technology or extra stump mic or any person informing me what's going on," he answers.


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


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


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


Du Plessis can likewise 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 escapes the bat.


"In terms of batting you simply listen really carefully 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 say "Yeah come on, come on, come on".


"And when the ball is struck through the off side, it has an sharp, crack noise, rather than 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 striking the ground with a scraping sound."


'I think I have found my specific niche'


A life time of listening to cricket paired with the capability to acknowledge people by sound, touch and smell has actually made it possible for to Du Plessis to create an effective profession as a broadcaster.


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


"I believe I will have to do less of the commentary and that's generally due to the fact that I have actually lost a fair bit of my hearing, specifically in my left ear," he describes.


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


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


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