Former Australian Test cricketer Joe Burns has made a remarkable transition in his career by leading Italy to their first-ever qualification for the T20I World Cup in 2026. This historic achievement marks a significant milestone for Italian cricket, and Burns’s role as captain has been pivotal in this journey.
Joe Burns, who played 23 Tests for Australia between 2014 and 2020, had a solid international career. He scored 1,442 runs, including four centuries, at an average of 36.97.
However, increased competition and fluctuations in form eventually led to the end of his Australian cricket journey. The turning point in Burns’s life came in 2024 following the tragic death of his brother, Dominic, in Brisbane. This emotional loss inspired Burns to reconnect with his heritage and seek a new chapter in his cricketing life.
Burns’s maternal grandparents hail from Calabria, Italy, and he decided to switch allegiance to Italian cricket, viewing it as a way to honor his family and carry forward his brother’s passion for the game. To pay tribute to Dominic, Burns wears jersey number 85, the same number his brother used and his birth year.
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Since taking on the role of Italy’s T20I captain, Joe Burns has injected professionalism and a winning mindset into the team. Under his leadership, Italy successfully navigated through European qualifiers, defeating teams like Romania and Scotland.
One of Burns’s standout performances was scoring an unbeaten 108 off just 55 balls against Romania, helping Italy secure their spot among the top cricket nations.
Burns’s influence extends beyond his performances on the field. He has been instrumental in elevating Italian cricket standards and inspiring young players. His vision is to create a lasting legacy for the sport in Italy, emphasizing heritage, family, and perseverance.
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As Burns recently stated, “It’s more than just cricket. It’s about honouring family, heritage, and building something that lasts beyond us.”
Joe Burns’s journey from Australia to Italy showcases resilience, passion, and the unifying power of cricket across borders.