Dean at Stumps

Dean du Plessis

Dean at Stumps is a cricket podcast which features interviews with players both current and former. It is Zimbabwe’s only cricket podcast

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108 episodes
Updated July 22

Episodes108

Newest first

Sep 11, 2020 · 1 hr 22 min
Ed Rainsford. “I couldn’t understand why my Dad’s family never loved us the way my Mom’s family did”
When listening to Edward Charlie Rainsford commentating on your television or radio set, he comes across as a loud jovial character. Often his lighthearted approach in the commentary box is misunderstood as being arrogant, or not taking his job or the game seriously. This couldn’t be any further from the truth as you will find out when listening to this very deep conversation between Ed and Dean du Plessis. Rainsford admits that he is a “complicated guy”. And, like so many former Zimbabwean players of colour, Rainsford also had his share of difficulties to deal with. Including his Mother’s horrific battle with cancer.
Sep 4, 2020 · 43 min
Alec Stewart
Director of Surrey and former captain of England Alec Stewart has a wonderful conversation with Dean du Plessis about his playing career, the importance of crowds attending sport, and the haphazard selections that plagued English cricket back in the 90’s.
Sep 1, 2020 · 59 min
“I had to wait until 2 or 3 AM before one of the white officials took me home. Vusi’s nightmare.
VusiMuzi Sibanda tells us a story of humour, honesty and sadness. Tall and elegant at the crease, Vusi Sibanda’s trademark cover drives and muscular pull shots were a pure delight to watch. He starts off by telling Dean du Plessis about him and his opening partner and good friend Tino Mawoyo missing a flight to the West Indies in 2013. He bravely admits that the pace of Brett Lee unnerved him. He admits that approaching milestones such as 50s and hundreds often made him circumspect which lead to him playing poor shots and giving his wicket away. But Vusi’s story is also tinged with sadness as he relates a session much worse than the searing pace of Brett Lee, as he was made to sing racial discrimination songs in the official’s car in the early hours of the morning. He was called names, made to feel uncomfortable with the fact that he was the only black player in the invitational team he was picked to play in. At the age of 17 a traumatised Vusi Sibanda nearly gave up playing the game before he even started, due to one man’s bitter taunts and hatred. This is an interview with humour, honesty and sadness.
Aug 29, 2020 · 55 min
Sean Ervine
He made his international debut for Zimbabwe at the age of 18, and retired from international cricket at the grand old age of 21. Sean Ervine who showed immense promise with bat and ball for Zimbabwe, left the country in 2004 to take up a 14 year career playing county cricket for Hampshire. He remembers his childhood days with fondness, talks at great length about his short but promising career with Zimbabwe. From watching Matthew Hayden score 380 against Zimbabwe in Perth, to his first and only hundred he scored against India at the Adelaide Oval in 2004. He remembers handing in his letter of retirement to Zimbabwe Cricket in tears, and he talks about his time with Hampshire, and the influence the great Shane Warne who captained Hampshire had over Sean’s development as a cricketer.
Aug 4, 2020 · 36 min
MR Cricket-Michael Hussey
“I believe that T20 cricket is a wonder vehicle to introduce fans to cricket, but, I hope Test Cricket survives for many more years”. Michael Hussey, one of the nice guys in World Cricket, takes time out to talk to Dean du Plessis about the importance of First Class cricket, his international career and his love of Test Cricket.
Jul 27, 2020 · 44 min
Graeme Hick 405*
“At first, I missed the friends and family back in Zimbabwe, but, it didn’t take me long to realise that there was no light at the end of the tunnel with regards to Zimbabwe qualifying for Test Cricket’”. His highest test score is 178 against India. His highest ODI score is 126* against Sri Lanka. He scored a staggering 41112 first class runs which included 136 hundreds, and 158 50s, with a highest score of 405*. Graeme Hick talks to Dean du Plessis about his teenage life in Zimbabwe, how he got to play for Worcestershire, his international playing days with England, and his time as Australia’s batting coach.
Jul 22, 2020 · 54 min
David Mutendera. “MAKING MY TEST DEBUT WAS HORRIBLE”
David Mutendera burst onto the the scene as a big strapping lad in the U19 ICC Cricket World Cup in South Africa back in 1998, and many felt that Zimbabwe had finally found the fast bowler to replace an aging Eddo Brandes, and an overworked Heath Streak. Sadly that never happened. Mutendera remembers his test debut, which also turned out to be his last test match with sadness. “It was against New Zealand at Queens Sports club in Bulawayo back in 2000, and Guy Whittle refused to play, saying Craig Wishart should have been in the side ahead of me”. Mutendera who is now a selector also believes that Zimbabwe’s controversial former managing director Ozias Bvute had a big part to play in the deterioration, adding that because so many people of cricketing knowledge had “abandoned the ship, Zimbabwe cricket was left to Bvute’s mercy”.
Jul 17, 2020 · 43 min
Sean Williams. THE WORST DAY OF MY CAREER WAS THE BEST CROWD EVER.
He is passionate, he wears his heart on his sleeve, and he speaks from the heart. Zimbabwe’s Test captain Sean Williams has a heart to heart with Dean du Plessis. He talks in depth about Zimbabwe’s loss to the UAE in the crucial World Cup qualifier at Harare sports club. He fondly remembers the 2015 ICC cricket World Cup, and relives his ODI debut against a powerhouse South African team in 2005, and reveals who he loves batting the most with, as well as the coaches that inspired him to achieve what he has.
Jul 15, 2020 · 44 min
Fazeer Mohammed. PURE GOLD
Fazeer Mohammed is a name which resonates with thousands of listeners and viewers in the Caribbean islands, from Jamaica to his home island of Trinidad and Tobago. Now, finally, he is beginning to make his mark in commentary boxes around the world, and although he isn’t on Social media, he has a world wide following. Fazeer talks about his first childhood memories of watching Michael Holding running in to bowl to the original little master Sunia Gavaskar. He shares his frustrations of not being able to commentate as much as former cricketers, but also expresses immense gratitude for what he has achieved. He talks about the styles of captaincy from Clive Loyd to Jason Holder, the West Indies chances of winning the series, and reminds us that the last Windows series win in England was back in 1988. In short, this is a conversation between 2 passionate lovers of the game who may never have played it, but who have so much to offer.
Jul 7, 2020 · 31 min
Sikandar Raza Butt
Sikandar Raza But, one of Zimbabwe’s all time favourites takes time to talk to Dean du Plessis about his recent signing up with CPL team the Trinbago Night Riders, as well as his childhood in Pakistan. Raza was hoping to become a fighter pilot, but that was not to be. He fondly remembers how he was picked to play for the Southern Rocks, a former franchise based in the Southern part of Zimbabwe, where he rubbed shoulders with a number of players both locally based and around the world. He remembers Zimbabwe’s tour of Pakistan in 2015, Zimbabwe’s test win against Pakistan, the country of his birth, and the euphoria of beating Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka in 2017. Raza also admits that should he ever be offered the captaincy, he would consider it a challenge he would relish.
Jul 1, 2020 · 25 min
AB de Villiers
“I would like another bite at the cherrie” says AB de Villiers with a chuckle as he talks to Dean du Plessis. “I’m doing everything I can from staying fit to hitting balls, and hoping I can play one more tournament for South Africa”. If it works out, I would be very happy, if not, so be it. AB de Villiers, also known as MR 360 degrees talks about making a choice between Tennis and Cricket, his best test hundred, and the heated series between South Africa and Australia. “I knew something was happening in the Australian camp”. Referring to the sandpaper incident.
Jun 28, 2020 · 46 min
Murray Goodwin.
“You can stay if you want, but I’m going”. These were the words of Murray Goodwin’s wife as the turbulence with in Zimbabwe cricket, and the country itself started back in 1999/2000. Murray Goodwin has a heart to heart conversation with Dean du Plessis, explaining why he came back to Zimbabwe, and why he left. Goodwin talks about his childhood in Zimbabwe and Australia, the thrill of making his debut for Western Australia against England, the friendships he made while playing for Zimbabwe, and his son Jayden. A talented leg spinning allrounder who has put his cricket career on hold to do voluntarily missionary work for his church in Zimbabwe. Murray fondly remembers his contributions for Sussex which secured the County Championship title in 2003, thanks to his innings of 335*
Jun 23, 2020 · 35 min
Kumar Sangakkara
He scored a staggering 12400 test runs in 134 matches at an average of 57.40 with a highest score of 319*. Kumar Sangakkara talks to Dean du Plessis from his home in Kandy where he and his family are celebrating his Father’s 80th Birthday. Kumar speaks about his roll as the first non British player to be elected as the president of the MCC. His love of Pakistan and it’s people despite the attack on their bus back in 2009 when Sri Lanka toured Pakistan. And he also speaks of the privilege of scoring hundreds for his school and for Sri Lanka at the same venue. His former school which also served as a test venue. He pays tribute to his childhood coach who still assisted him, even when he had scored his 10 thousandth test run, and the influence of his Father.
Jun 2, 2020 · 24 min
Brendan Taylor
“Hopefully another 2 and a half years of international cricket” says Brendan Taylor in his chat with Dean du Plessis. 34 year old batsman Brendan Taylor talks about growing up playing cricket under the watchful eye of the Campbell family, his childhood hero’s, Andy Flower and Adam Gilchrist, how he adapted from the U19 World Cup to playing test cricket, his stint with Nottinghamshire and Zimbabwe’s upcoming fixtures.
May 29, 2020 · 22 min
Neil Johnson’s World Cup Memories
Neil Johnson. Always smiling and positive by nature remembers the 1999 World Cup with great fondness, and rightly so. Zimbabwe beat Kenya, India and South Africa which allowed them to qualify for the Super sixes. Johnson remembers Zimbabwe’s best day of their ODI History when they beat South Africa, who were the favourites of the tournament. And of course scoring 132* against Australia at Lord’s.
May 22, 2020 · 50 min
Dave Houghton
He was one of Zimbabwe’s finest sportsmen, and undoubtedly one of the country’s best cricketers. He was the first Zimbabwean to score a hundred in an ODI when he made 142 against New Zealand in the 1987 World Cup. The first Zimbabwean to score a test hundred when he made 121 against India in Zimbabwe’s debut test match in 1992. The first Zimbabwean to score a double test hundred when he made 266 against Sri Lanka in 1994. He was Zimbabwe’s most successful coach when he was in charge from 1996 to 2000. He now proudly coaches Derbyshire County Cricket Club. Dave Houghton talks about coaching, Zimbabwe’s quest to gain Test Status, playing along side and even captaining players such as Viv Richards and Sachin Tendulkar.
May 20, 2020 · 33 min
Adam Hollioake
When my Brother Ben died, I honestly thought the sun would never shine again. Former England ODI captain now Queensland coach Adam Hollioake has a heart to heart chat with Dean du Plessis about his career, mixed Martial Arts, investment losses, and feeling like he never belonged to any country.
May 15, 2020 · 42 min
JP Duminy
Former South African batsman JP Duminy will always be remembered for his dramatic start to Test cricket. His unbeaten 50 assisted AB de Villiers in a match winning partnership as South Africa chased down 414 in Perth in 2008. But, JP wasn’t done yet, his 166 in the 2nd test at the MCG played a significant part in South Africa winning the series down under. The first South African test team to achieve a series win in Australia. He talks about the pressure that followed his test success into the IPL and admits that at times, alcohol was something he turned to in order to relieve some of the pressure. Most of All, JP Duminy hopes that he is able to play a roll in assisting the next generation of cricketers to represent South Africa.
May 6, 2020 · 48 min
Rest in Peace Dean Jones the Legend.
How often do you have two people with the same name talking about something they love with their entire being? This is one of the rare occasions when Dean du Plessis and Dean Jones have a chat about current players, and of course Dean Jones’s playing career. Jones is a fabulous story teller, and and leads us into the famous sweat band incident with Curtly Ambrose. He also admits that he was part of one of Australia’s “most gutless, heartless” performances against the West Indies in 1988 which subsequently saw him score 216 against the same opposition in the following test match. Story telling at it’s best. He pulls no punches. Dean Jones at his best.
May 3, 2020 · 59 min
Tino Mawoyo
Tino Mawoyo is undoubtedly Zimbabwe’s premier cricket commentator. He not only works on games that feature Zimbabwe, but also worked extensively on the ICC World Cup qualifiers in 2018, and is a regular commentator in the Bangladesh Premier League. Tino takes us back to whee it all started for him in the Eastern highlands city of Mutare. He remembers his ferry tail test debut against Bangladesh, his 163* against Pakistan, and he also picks his all-time Zimbabwe test 11.