Joe Burns Leads Italy to Historic First T20 World Cup Qualification
What an incredible moment for world cricket—Italy, yes Italy , has officially qualified for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. And at the heart of this unforgettable story is former Australian Test opener Joe Burns, who captained the Italian national team through a remarkable journey that ended in tears of joy and history being made.
It’s honestly one of those fairy-tale sports moments that gives you chills. Joe Burns, who once opened the batting for Australia, now finds himself representing his mother’s homeland, Italy, on the global cricketing stage. After losing his brother Dominic in early 2024, Burns dedicated this mission to him—and now, he’s helped guide Italy to their first-ever appearance in a Cricket World Cup. Emotional doesn’t even begin to describe it.
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The European qualifiers were tense. Italy had already pulled off a shock win over Scotland earlier in the week. That put them in a strong position heading into a crucial match against the Netherlands. Burns, unfortunately, was dismissed early for 21, and by the ninth over, Italy had stumbled to 4-46. Their World Cup hopes looked like they might be slipping away. But then came a crucial partnership—Ben Manenti and his brother Harry, both with Big Bash League experience, put together 45 gritty runs that gave Italy a fighting chance.
Their total of 7-134 wasn't dominating, but it gave them a lifeline. Italy didn’t need to win—they just needed the Netherlands to chase the target in more than 15 overs. And that’s exactly what happened. When the Dutch reached the total in the 17th over, it meant Italy had qualified, narrowly edging out Jersey on net run rate. It was a surreal celebration: losing the game but winning something far greater.
Burns, now Italian captain, called it a “very emotional day.” He spoke of how the last 18 months were some of the hardest of his life, and how representing Italy gave him something to focus on. His goal was to honour family, history, and the Italian diaspora—and he’s done just that. From WWII migration stories to cricketing passion spanning generations, this isn’t just a sporting achievement—it’s a cultural milestone.
Seven members of Italy’s squad have Australian roots, including Burns and the Manenti brothers. But they’ve proudly donned the blue jersey of Italy with one unified mission: to carve a legacy for Italian cricket. Burns made it clear—they’re not just showing up next year in India and Sri Lanka to make up the numbers. They want to inspire a new generation, both in Italy and among Italian communities around the world.
So now, when we talk about the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, we say: Australia, India, England… and Italy . It’s a new chapter. One built on passion, loss, resilience, and pride. Bravo, Azzurri!
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