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After moving to Italy, Burns has appeared in five T20Is where he has scored 211 runs with an impressive average of 70.33 and a strike rate of 144.52.
Joe Burns has played 23 Tests for Australia and now represents Italy. (Image: Instagram/@joeburns441)
After parting ways with Australia Cricket, opening batter Joe Burns embarks on a new journey with the Italian cricket team. The 33-year-old has been named the captain of Italy as he brings a wealth of experience and a competitive edge to the team.
According to ESPNcricinfo, the Brisbane-born Burns qualified for Italy through his mother’s heritage and made his debut for them in June.
“I am honoured to take on this role and represent Italy on the international stage,” Burns said in a statement.
“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 teammates, we are working to achieve ambitious goals and make our fans proud,” he added.
Burns played as a Test opener for Australia. Between December 2014 and January 2021, he scored 1,442 runs in 40 innings across 23 matches, including four centuries, with an average of 36.97.
After moving to Italy, Burns has appeared in five T20Is where he has scored 211 runs with an impressive average of 70.33 and a strike rate of 144.52. In his latest match, he smashed an unbeaten 108 off 55 balls, leading Italy to victory over Romania in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub-Regional Europe Qualifier Group A.
President of the Italian Cricket Federation Fabio Marabini has backed Burns to succeed in the leadership role.
“Since day one, Joe has shown great generosity and professionalism, putting his experience and competitive spirit at the disposal of the team,” he said.
“His choice as captain reflects our ambition to take Italian cricket to new levels. We are also counting on his leadership to play a leading role in the next qualifying stages for the 2026 T20 World Cup,” he added.
