Joe Burns’ cricket journey has taken a remarkable and emotional turn. Once a Test opener for Australia, he is now set to lead Italy in their debut appearance at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2026, an achievement that goes far beyond sport.

Burns stepped onto the international stage in the 2014 Boxing Day Test at the MCG, a match that will be remembered for many reasons, as MS Dhoni's farewell, KL Rahul's first steps into international cricket, yet for Burns, it marked an uneven start to international cricket. While Rahul prospered from this opportunity, Burns had ups and downs - although he scored four Test centuries in just 23 matches, a lack of consistency and stiff competition saw him fall out of favour with Australia's plans by 2020.

But it was never say never for Burns. In 2024, after the tragedy of his brother Dominic's passing away unexpectedly, Burns decided to represent Italy, the land of his maternal grandparents. His decision to play for Italy was not just about playing cricket; it was about playing as a brother in mourning. He represented Italy wearing jersey number 85, which was the same number Dominic wore to play club cricket, yet also the year he was born. It's a number that not just represented Dominic, but ultimately it was 85 as a tribute.

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Joe Burns Leads Italy to First-Ever T20 World Cup with Heart and Determination

Taking over as Italy’s T20I captain in late 2024, Burns brought structure, belief, and professionalism to a team not expected to go far. In a regional qualifier packed with favourites like Scotland and the Netherlands, Italy needed to hang tough. They did exactly that. In their final group game, they managed to restrict the Netherlands just enough to edge through on net run rate. Burns’ best moment came against Romania, where he hammered an unbeaten 108 off 55 balls, a defining innings in Italy’s fairytale run.

Now, as Italy gets ready to feature in their first-ever global tournament, Burns stands at the centre of a story few saw coming. It’s not just about cricket anymore. It’s about family, love, and honouring the past while building a new future for himself, for Italy, and for the brother who never got to see this dream realized.

Italy on the Verge of T20 World Cup History After Stunning Win Over Scotland

The Italy men’s cricket team is just one step away from making history. On Wednesday (July 9), they pulled off a thrilling 12-run win against Scotland at The Hague in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier 2025. With this victory, Italy have moved closer than ever to qualifying for their first-ever T20 World Cup, which will be held in India and Sri Lanka in early 2026.

After three matches, Italy now sit on top of the points table with five points. Their final group game is on Friday (July 11) against hosts Netherlands at Sportpark Westvliet. If they win, they will seal their place in the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Even if they lose, all hope isn’t lost. They’ll still have a chance to qualify provided they stay ahead of Scotland and Jersey on the points table. Right now, both Scotland and Jersey have 3 points each and will face off on Friday. Only one can reach 5 points, but Italy have a stronger net run rate, giving them an edge.

🚨 ITALY STUNS SCOTLAND IN THE T20 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS. 🚨

- Italy can play the 2026 T20 WC. 🤯pic.twitter.com/t0PrGoSDj2

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 9, 2025

Captain Joe Burns, a former Australian Test opener who now leads Italy, called the moment “very surreal.” The 35-year-old said the team is proud but knows there’s still work to do. “We can’t celebrate too hard just yet,” Burns said, “but to beat a quality side like Scotland is a huge reward for everyone who’s worked so hard behind the scenes.”

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He added, “This could be just the beginning. The team is full of emotions right now we’re so close to the World Cup, it’s hard to believe.” The 2024 T20 World Cup saw first-time appearances from teams like USA, Canada, Uganda, Papua New Guinea, and Nepal. USA even pulled off a shock win over Pakistan. Now, Italy are hoping to be the next underdog story at the 2026 edition.