The leg-spinner played for South Africa in Zimbabwe's pre-independence days. Du Preez played two Tests against Australia in 1967, during which he picked up three wickets at just 17 runs each in a series that his side won 3-1.

Du Preez didn't represent South Africa thereafter but enjoyed a long and successful first-class career. In 120 first-class matches, he picked up 296 wickets at 31.07.

He also enjoyed enough success with the bat so as to be labelled an all-rounder, scoring 4,063 runs in first-class cricket at an average of 23.76, including one century and 19 fifties.

He later spent a period as a member of Zimbabwe Cricket's selection panel.