Former Australian Test opener Joe Burns has made cricket history, captaining Italy to their first-ever appearance at a Cricket World Cup by securing qualification for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India.
Burns, 35, played a key role both on and off the field, helping assemble the squad and support staff that carried Italy through the European qualifiers earlier this month. Italy is now one of two European teams confirmed for the T20 World Cup, marking a major milestone for the nation in international cricket.
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From Baggy Green to Azzurri
A veteran of 23 Tests for Australia—with four centuries to his name—Burns embraced his Italian heritage through his grandparents, who emigrated from Calabria in southern Italy to Townsville, Queensland after World War II.
Burns said the qualification holds deep personal meaning: “A lot of our grandparents left Italy after World War II, so it’s very much a shared story to come together and to represent past generations,” he said. “I know my grandparents would be very proud, and I know mum and dad have been following the games really closely.”
In the lead-up to the qualifiers, Burns was instrumental in bringing in Brisbane-based coach John Davison, a former Canadian captain who played in three World Cups. Burns also led efforts to build a competitive squad by tapping into the Italian diaspora’s cricketing talent.
Part of Queensland cricketing royalty
With his appointment as Italy captain, Burns joins a distinguished list of Queenslanders to lead an international cricket team, including Allan Border, Greg Chappell, Kepler Wessels, Ian Healy, Shane Watson and Jodie Purves.
He also follows in the footsteps of Joe Scuderi, another Far North Queensland native who captained Italy between 2008 and 2016. Scuderi, originally from Ingham, had a strong domestic career with South Australia and in English county cricket.
Burns’ cricketing journey and Italy’s rising profile
Burns has played 112 first-class matches for Queensland, scoring 7361 runs at an average of 39.36, and also appeared in 66 domestic one-day games and 59 BBL matches for the Brisbane Heat. His international career includes six ODIs for Australia and, to date, eight T20 Internationals for Italy.
One of his standout moments in Italian colours came last year when he scored 108 not out against Romania, showcasing his enduring class with the bat.
As Italy prepares for their World Cup debut, Burns hopes the team’s achievement will have an impact beyond the field: “There are Italians dispersed all over the world, and I hope this team is a beacon for Italians everywhere.”
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What’s next for Italy and Burns?
With qualification now secured, Italy will join cricket’s elite on the global stage at the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India. As captain, Burns will continue to lead from the front, shaping the squad for their most important campaign in history.
For Italian cricket—and for Joe Burns—it’s a pioneering moment years in the making.
