Francois du Plessis
Encyclopedia
Francois "Faf" du Plessis (born 13 July 1984) is a right-handed batsman who plays One Day International cricket for South Africa and is a former under 19 representative.
He was given a 6 month contract with Lancashire
for the 2008 season starting in April as a Kolpak player after impressing the board with good performances in the local Nottinghamshire leagues for Mansfield Hosiery Mills Cricket Club and Lancashire cricket league for Todmorden cricket club. Du Plessis started his Lancashire account by scoring 55 against Durham UCCE
before being dismissed by opening bowler Foster. Following his six month stint with Lancashire, du Plessis signed a new three-year deal with the club. Lancashire coach Mike Watkinson
praised du Plessis' fielding, saying "if there's a better fielder in county cricket I've not seen him this season". In March 2010, it was announced that du Plessis would no longer be allowed to play for Lancashire as a Kolpak player after changes to the Kolpak rules. Peter Moores
, who took over as the club's coach at the start of the 2009 season, rued the loss and said "Not only is Faf a very talented cricketer, but during his two years at Lancashire was lauded by everyone in English cricket for his fielding brilliance. His positive energy and enthusiastic approach to the job at hand will be sorely missed and I speak on behalf of everyone in the dressing room when I thank Faf for his unwavering commitment and his contribution to the club and its supporters". Francois du Plessis, who is little known in India, has been signed by the 2010 IPL Champions Chennai Super Kings for US $120,000 at the IPL Player Auction 2011, held at the Indian city of Bengaluru, this comes as a big surprise due to his identity whereas more experienced and powerful stars like West Indians legend Brian Lara, Chris Gayle and former Indian Cricket Captain Saurav Ganguly were sidelined.
Along with Jonathan Vandiar, Dean Elgar
, and Ethi Mbhalati, du Plessis was one of four uncapped players to be named in South Africa's 30-man preliminary squad for the 2011 World Cup
.
Du Plessis has played 10 ODI's for South Africa and was named one of the five South Africa Cricket Annual's Players Of The Year 2011.
He is currently represented by The Stellar Group .
(Afrikaans High School for Boys, also known as Affies), a public school located in Pretoria. He attended alongside fellow Titans cricketers AB de Villiers, Heino Kuhn
and Jacques Rudolph
. He is also a graduate of the University of Pretoria
.
He was featured in the music video for the song "Maak Jou Drome Waar", a duet by AB de Villiers and Ampie du Preez
.
He was given a 6 month contract with Lancashire
Lancashire County Cricket Club
Lancashire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Lancashire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1864 as a successor to Manchester Cricket Club and has played at Old Trafford since then...
for the 2008 season starting in April as a Kolpak player after impressing the board with good performances in the local Nottinghamshire leagues for Mansfield Hosiery Mills Cricket Club and Lancashire cricket league for Todmorden cricket club. Du Plessis started his Lancashire account by scoring 55 against Durham UCCE
Durham University Centre of Cricketing Excellence
Durham MCC University is a cricket coaching centre based at Durham University in Durham, County Durham, England and the name under which the university's cricket team plays....
before being dismissed by opening bowler Foster. Following his six month stint with Lancashire, du Plessis signed a new three-year deal with the club. Lancashire coach Mike Watkinson
Mike Watkinson
Mike Watkinson is a former English cricketer who played four Test matches and one One Day International in the mid-1990s...
praised du Plessis' fielding, saying "if there's a better fielder in county cricket I've not seen him this season". In March 2010, it was announced that du Plessis would no longer be allowed to play for Lancashire as a Kolpak player after changes to the Kolpak rules. Peter Moores
Peter Moores (cricketer)
Peter Moores is a former English county cricketer. He played as a wicketkeeper for Worcestershire and Sussex He became the coach of Lancashire County Cricket Club, on 11 February 2009....
, who took over as the club's coach at the start of the 2009 season, rued the loss and said "Not only is Faf a very talented cricketer, but during his two years at Lancashire was lauded by everyone in English cricket for his fielding brilliance. His positive energy and enthusiastic approach to the job at hand will be sorely missed and I speak on behalf of everyone in the dressing room when I thank Faf for his unwavering commitment and his contribution to the club and its supporters". Francois du Plessis, who is little known in India, has been signed by the 2010 IPL Champions Chennai Super Kings for US $120,000 at the IPL Player Auction 2011, held at the Indian city of Bengaluru, this comes as a big surprise due to his identity whereas more experienced and powerful stars like West Indians legend Brian Lara, Chris Gayle and former Indian Cricket Captain Saurav Ganguly were sidelined.
Along with Jonathan Vandiar, Dean Elgar
Dean Elgar
Dean Elgar, born 11 June 1987 in Welkom, is a South African cricketer. He captained the 2006 Under-19 Cricket World Cup in Sri Lanka in 2006. He now plays for Free State and Eagles in the major South African cricket competitions.-References:...
, and Ethi Mbhalati, du Plessis was one of four uncapped players to be named in South Africa's 30-man preliminary squad for the 2011 World Cup
2011 Cricket World Cup
The 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup was the tenth Cricket World Cup. It was played in India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. It was Bangladesh's first time co-hosting a World Cup...
.
Du Plessis has played 10 ODI's for South Africa and was named one of the five South Africa Cricket Annual's Players Of The Year 2011.
He is currently represented by The Stellar Group .
Education
Francois attended Afrikaanse Hoër SeunskoolAfrikaanse Hoër Seunskool
The Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool also known as Affies, is a public high school for boys situated in the city of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa, opposite Loftus Versfeld, the rugby stadium and home of the Bulls and Blue Bulls.The school's founding on 28 January 1920 marked the establishment of the...
(Afrikaans High School for Boys, also known as Affies), a public school located in Pretoria. He attended alongside fellow Titans cricketers AB de Villiers, Heino Kuhn
Heino Kuhn
Heino Gunther Kuhn is a South African cricketer who plays for the Titans in domestic cricket. A wicketkeeper batsman, he was the second highest run scorer in the 2006-07 SuperSport Series with 776 runs at 48.50...
and Jacques Rudolph
Jacques Rudolph
Jacobus Andries Rudolph , popularly known as Jacques Rudolph, is a South African Test and ODI cricketer currently playing in England with Yorkshire CCC and in South Africa with Titans.He had an unbeaten 222 in his debut Test inning...
. He is also a graduate of the University of Pretoria
University of Pretoria
The University of Pretoria is a multi campus public research university located in Pretoria, the administrative and de facto capital of South Africa...
.
Off the Field
He is a second cousin of Namibian rugby star Marcel du Plessis.He was featured in the music video for the song "Maak Jou Drome Waar", a duet by AB de Villiers and Ampie du Preez
Ampie du Preez
Ampie Du Preez is a South African singer-songwriter. In 2010 he collaborated with South African cricketer AB de Villiers on their debut album, Maak Jou Drome Waar ....
.