Francois du Plessis Biography

Full Name : Francois du Plessis 

Date of Birth : 13th July 1984

Place of Birth : Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa 

Nick Name : "FAF" 

Batting Style : Right-Hand 

Bowling Style : Right Arm Leg Break 

Role : All-Rounder 

ODI Debut (cap 101) : 18th January 2011 v India 

Francois "Faf" du Plessis is a right-handed batsman who plays One Day International cricket for South Africa and is a former under 19 representative.

Francois du Plessis 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 in the Lancashire League for Todmorden.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.  Francois du Plessis  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". In 2011, he was signed by the 2010 IPL Champions Chennai Super Kings for US$120,000 at the Indian Premier League player auction.

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. Francois du Plessis  was named one of the five South Africa Cricket Annual's Players Of The Year in 2011.

Francois du Plessis is currently represented by The Stellar Group .

Education

Francois attended Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Afrikaans High School for Boys, also known as Affies), a public school located in Pretoria.  Francois du Plessis  attended alongside fellow Titans cricketers AB de Villiers, Heino Kuhn and Jacques Rudolph.  Francois du Plessis  is also a graduate of the University of Pretoria.

Off the Field,  Francois du Plessis  is a second cousin of Namibian rugby star Marcel du Plessis.

Francois du Plessis was featured in the music video for the song "Maak Jou Drome Waar", a duet by AB de Villiers and Ampie du Preez.