Image: Joe Burns has been named captain of Italy's cricket team / © Hindustan Times
After playing for the Australian team and then moving to Italy, Joe Burns has been appointed as the captain of Italy’s cricket team. The former Australian opener, born in Brisbane, represented Australia between 2014 and 2020, scoring 1,442 runs in 23 Test matches, including four centuries. Burns qualified to play for Italy through his mother’s heritage and shifted to the country to honor his late brother, Dominic.
Burns has made an impressive start for Italy, scoring 211 runs in five T20Is at an average of 70.33. His standout performance came with an unbeaten 88 off 55 balls in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub Regional Europe Qualifier Group A against Romania, guiding Italy to a crucial win. With the win, he said:
I am honored to take on this role and represent Italy on the international stage. For me, it is a return to my family’s roots. Italian cricket has enormous potential and I am excited to contribute to its growth. Together with my team-mates, we are working to achieve ambitious goals and make our fans proud.
Expressing his excitement about leading Italy, Burns highlighted the potential of Italian cricket and his ambition to achieve significant milestones. Alongside his international commitments, Burns is set to play for the Dubai Capitals in the upcoming ILT20 season.