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"We Are Very Confident": Joe Burns Backs Italy To Bag T20 World Cup 2026 Spot

Jatin

Joe Burns is Italy's T20I captain [Source: @cricketcomau/x.com]Joe Burns is Italy's T20I captain [Source: @cricketcomau/x.com]

They say cricket takes you places and for Joe Burns, it has taken him back to his roots. The former Australian Test opener, who once walked out in Baggy Green alongside Steve Smith and David Warner, is now donning the Italian cap, hoping to lead his side to their maiden T20 World Cup.

Joe Burns Eyes Legacy With Italy Just a Step Away From T20 World Cup Dream

And for Joe Burns, it is not just about the runs anymore. It’s about legacy.

“We talk a lot as a team about creating a legacy for the generations to come after us,” Burns told BBC Sport ahead of Italy’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers.

Joe Burns isn’t here for a second wind in his cricket career, he is here for a purpose. At 35, with 23 Tests and 4 centuries for Australia in the rearview mirror, he has swapped the mighty green and gold for a lighter shade of blue but the hunger still burns bright.

“It’s not lost on us the magnitude of the impact we can have on Italian cricket,” he said. “To wear the Italian cap at a World Cup would make us a groundbreaking team. And we think we've got the team to get there.”

That belief will be tested in the Hague from July 5–11 as Italy battles it out with Guernsey, Jersey, Scotland and the Netherlands for two coveted spots in the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

Italy might not have proper turf pitches yet. They might be 32nd in the ICC rankings. But what they do have is grit and a squad willing to put their bodies on the line for something bigger than just cricket.

The squad prepped with friendlies in Horsham and warm-up games in the Netherlands. It’s not the typical build-up you see with Test nations but Burns isn’t one to fuss.

“I feel like Associate cricket is very much the grassroots of international cricket,” Burns added. “But I really think that in 30, 40 or 50 years from now, Italy could be a massive player in world cricket.”

From Church Sundays To Cricket Fields

Burns’ journey to this point is soaked in emotion and heritage. His grandparents hailed from Delianuova in Calabria, that is the toe of Italy’s boot if you’re checking maps. His mother, Grazia, was born in Brisbane but the Italian way of life was deeply woven into his childhood.

“I grew up with Italian traditions and that Italian connection,” the 35-year-old revealed. “So it's nice to, I guess, combine the two loves of family and cricket and be able to play on the world stage.”

There is a lump in the throat as he remembers his late brother Dominic, who passed away last year. It is one of the reasons why he decided to play for Italy cricket team.

“I look at that Italian shirt and it gives me a lot of strength,” Burns said. “And it's not just me, but… there's 14 other guys that have very similar stories.”

One Step From History

Italy national cricket team’s campaign starts on July 5 in the Hague, and the task is clear: finish in the top two and make World Cup dreams come true.

“We're very confident that if we play to our best, we'll be going to a World Cup,” reckoned Burns, firm in his belief.

Whether they make it or not, Burns has already brought something priceless to Italian cricket: heart, heritage and hope.