Joe Burns, the recently retired Australian cricket international, has taken on a key role. He is currently the captain of Italy’s national cricket team. His ultimate goal is to lead Italy to their first-ever T20 World Cup. Italy has been an associate member of the International Cricket Council since 1984. As of now, the nation ranks 32nd in the ICC world rankings.
The Italian cricketing landscape has produced as many as 3,500 competitive players and boasts over 100 clubs. It is faltering under immense stresses such as the absence of adequate turf pitches. Burns, who qualified to race for Italy through his grandparents, finds internal inspiration from his deep cultural heritage. His grandfather was one such Italian, a prisoner of war. In 1948, after World War II had ended, he was able to leave and came to America with his wife. Burns’ mother, Grazia, was born in Brisbane. With her, I began to hear amazing stories about their family history in Delianuova, a tiny town in Calabria.
The earliest recorded instance of a game of cricket being played in Italy was in 1793. Sailors from Lord Nelson’s fleet staged the final in Naples. However, for all its history, Italian cricket has struggled ever since to climb the ranks on the international scene. Burns now thinks this is all about to change under his leadership and that of new powerful progressives.
The European regional qualifier for the 2026 T20 World Cup will feature teams from Guernsey, Jersey, Scotland, and the Netherlands. Burns expressed confidence in his team’s potential to secure a spot in the World Cup, stating, “We’re very confident that if we play to our best, we’ll be going to a World Cup.” His vision extends beyond mere participation; he aspires for the Italian team to create a lasting legacy for future generations.
Burns, though, is acutely aware of the impact their success would have on Italian cricket. He emphasized the importance of their journey, saying, “It’s not lost on us the magnitude of the impact we can have on Italian cricket. We talk a lot as a team about creating a legacy for the generations to come after us.”
For Burns, the choice to represent Italy was a deeply personal one. He memorialized this decision on behalf of his late brother, Dominic, who died last year. He really explained the deep emotional meaning of this decision, and how it helps him be connected to his family’s roots. “Really, it’s my two life communities that are helping me and my family through a tough time,” he remarked.
Burns speaks very fondly of his ‘nonna’ who got to see him play for Australia and her intrepid queries of how he went. “I remember my ‘nonna’ watching when I played for Australia, and she was always asking my mum what was going on,” he shared. “I’m sure she’s looking on very proudly now I’m playing for Italy.”
Whenever he puts on the Italian shirt, Burns claims to feel a rush of strength and pride. It’s like when I wear that Italian shirt, I’m inspired by it and it gives me strength. I’m not the only one with a story, there are 14 other guys with similar stories. Right now, he added, “all bets are off.”
Burns has optimistic sentiments about the country’s place in the world cricket landscape. He is absolutely convinced that there is a great competitive awakening among Associate nations such as Italy. “I feel like Associate cricket is very much the grassroots of international cricket,” he said. He envisions a future where Italy becomes a significant player on the global stage: “I really think that in 30, 40 or 50 years from now, Italy could be a massive player in world cricket.”
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