Meet the world's first blind cricket commentator from Zimbabwe

The worlds first blind cricket commentator who is from Zimbabwe relies on his sense of hearing is so good that listeners have no idea he is blind.

Dean du Plessis is a 40 year old visually impaired man who has not let his disability from pursuing a career in the sport he enjoys most.

His disability hasn't been a barrier for him even though it has hindered his progress and stopped him from getting as much recognition as he would like.

Who is Dean du Plessis?

Dean du Plessis is currently the world’s only internationally acclaimed blind cricket commentator and columnist. He was born with tumors behind both retinas which destroyed his eyesight before birth.

He had both eyes removed and wears glass eyes. Dean du Plessis, has quit his job as Digital Media Manager at Zimbabwe Cricket.

Introduction to cricket

Du Plessis brother, Gary played first class cricket in Zimbabwe for the Mashonaland A cricket team. It was not until 1992 when South Africa was readmitted into the international cricketing fraternity when Du Plessis was boarding student in Worcester, South Africa that his love for cricket was ignited.

He used to spend his pocket money in calling up Radio One in Zimbabwe to know the scores, when the Zimbabwe national cricket team were given test status in 1992.

Zimbabwe's produces worlds first visually impaired commentator

How his commentary works

Du Plessis' very acute sense of hearing and his eavesdropping on other commentators helps him overcome the fact that he is blind and most listeners are unaware that he can't see.

He hears the power and direction of the hit. He listens to the speed and spin of the ball, along with the players' exertions and their cries of elation or frustration. He senses the excitement of the play on the cricket field and collates the scores with a computer-like memory.

Challenges surrounding his disability

In an interview he said that, "I would like to say that as a person who has lived with disability since the day I was born, I still find it very hard to make my presence known and for people to understand that I’m just a normal human being."

He also had a lot of resignation towards being disabled and only sparking curiosity but not enough interest in his work.

"A lot of people like to hear my story on how I commentate cricket, but that is far as it goes. Nobody has actually approached me to employ me as a full-time cricket journalist, which is why after this conclusion, I will no longer be part of any sport or cricket pretty much ever again. Because after 15 and a half years, I have come to realise that getting formally employed is not going to happen."