Joe Burns, the former Australian opening batter and the current captain of the Italian cricket side, has penned down an emotional message after they made it through to their maiden T20 World Cup qualification for the 2026 season in India and Sri Lanka. The Brisbane-born decided to join this side after his brother passed away a couple of years ago. 

The final day of the Europe Qualifiers of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup was a roller coaster with Jersey getting knocked out due to the Netherlands chasing their total a bit late. After being restricted to 134/7, Italy needed to hold the Dutch side for at least 15 overs to qualify. Michael Levitt and Max O’Dowd got off to a powerful start, but Burns and his army stretched them back.

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“I don’t think words will ever describe my emotions to this team and this country. Sacrifice, dedication, and commitment to a dream - we have walked this path into the unknown together to our first World Cup. Guided by the inspiration of those at home, around the world, or looking down from above. For the ones who have gone before and for generations to come.” Burns expressed during a recent Instagram post after the qualification.

Joe Burns pens down emotional message after Italy’s maiden T20 World Cup qualification

With the bat, Italy kept losing wickets regularly in the first inning. A steady knock by Benjamin Manenti and a late powerful knock by Grant Stewarts pushed them to 134/7. Jersey lost the qualification path despite earning a victory against Scotland, which was their first win against this opposition.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Joe Burns (@joeburns441)

“As many as 15 teams have qualified for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 so far, with the Asia Eastern part will see another three further teams getting the tickets, while two more sides will come from the Africa qualifier to make it through. I hope this team can be a beacon for everyone to connect through family, through sport, and a shared story. May those who walk with us forever be proud. Without them, we never would have dared to dream.” Joe Burns wrote.

It's a huge step for the country towards the future for the growth of the game, despite the lack of infrastructure and the emotions the fans currently have for the sport.

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.

Netherlands and Italy have booked their places in the 2026 T20 World Cup, which will be held in India and Sri Lanka. Netherlands finished at the top of the Europe Regional Final, winning three out of four matches. Italy made it through by a very small margin, beating Jersey on Net Run Rate (NRR).

Netherlands and Italy qualify for 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka

It was a close and exciting Regional Final, with Italy, Netherlands, and Jersey all fighting for a spot. Earlier on Friday, Jersey pulled off a last-ball win against Scotland. It was the first time Jersey had ever beaten Scotland in a T20 match. In the final game, Netherlands needed to beat Italy to qualify. Italy just had to make sure they didn’t lose by a big margin. Italy batted first and scored 134 for seven. Netherlands chased the target in 17 overs to win, but Italy’s better NRR kept them ahead of Jersey in the table.

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The 2026 T20 World Cup will have 20 teams. Hosts India and Sri Lanka are joined by Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, West Indies, and the United States, who all reached the Super Eights last time. Pakistan, New Zealand, and Ireland qualified thanks to their T20 rankings. Canada also made it by winning the Americas Regional Final in June.

🇮🇹 𝗜𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗬 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗧𝟮𝟬 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 𝗖𝗨𝗣 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 🏆

History has been created! The first ever CRICKET World Cup qualification for Italy it is! 💥

The Manenti brothers, Emilio Gay, Joe Burns and co. have brought a new spring to the cricketing generation of the… pic.twitter.com/sHCGiuO3At

— Cricketangon (@cricketangon) July 11, 2025

T20 World Cup 2026 Europe Qualifier table 

Italy is on the verge of qualifying for the upcoming ICC T20I World Cup after a historic win over Scotland. In their last match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier, 2025, they'll be facing the Netherlands, another high-profile team of the groups. For both Italy and the Netherlands, tomorrow's game will be a must-win encounter, where Italy will start the match as the favorite to win. The Italian cricket team proved their mettle by winning against Scotland; it was a neck-and-neck match, where both teams had an equalshare to win it. Italy managed to hold their nerves strong and delivered the required performance to grab an all-important win.

In terms of the points table, Italy, after playing 3 matches, is currently at the top of the points table with 5 points. And the Netherlands, with the same number of matches, has 4 points, and they are the second-place holder of the ladder. The boys in orange will have a chance to claim the first spot of the table. 

Match Details 

Series: ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier, 2025

Match: Match 10

Venue: Voorburg Cricket Club, The Hague

Date and Time: Friday, 11th July, 19:30

Umpires: Russell Warren (ENG), Roland Black (IRE), and Aidan Seaver (IRE)

Referee: Denavon Hayles (WI)

ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier, 2025, Italy vs Netherlands, Live Streaming: icc.tv

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Squads:

Netherlands' squad: Anthony Mosca, Emilio Gay, Joe Burns (c), Justin Mosca, Zain Naqvi, Benjamin Manenti, Bilal Khan, Grant Stewart, Harry Manenti, Gian-Piero Meade (wk), Marcus Campopiano (wk), Crishan Kalugamage, Damith Kosala, Jaspreet Singh, Thomas Draca, and Zain Ali. 

Italy's squad: Anthony Mosca, Emilio Gay, Joe Burns (c), Justin Mosca, Zain Naqvi, Benjamin Manenti, Bilal Khan, Grant Stewart, Harry Manenti, Gian-Piero Meade (wk), Marcus Campopiano (wk), Crishan Kalugamage, Damith Kosala, Jaspreet Singh, Thomas Draca, and Zain Ali.

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.

A double-header Wednesday as four teams from the European group will try hard to gain a much-needed win, with the hope of getting a chance in the upcoming ICC T20I World Cup. Today, the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier will witness a couple of matches. The first match of the day will be between Italy and Scotland, and the next game will be between Guernsey and the Netherlands. On pen and paper, the Italy vs. Scotland match is looking more interesting, as both teams are on the same points, but because of the Net Run Rate, Italy remains at the top of the points table.

Scotland will step onto the field with boostedconfidence, as they defeated the Netherlands in their previous match. The Netherlands cricket team, today, has a great chance to get back on the winning track. Their rival for tonight, Guernsey, has been experiencing an extremely poor run for the last few matches. The points table of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier can be looked at differently after the double fixtures. 

• ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier live streaming: Both matches will be streaming live on ICC TV. 

ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier, Italy vs Scotland match details:

Match: 7

Venue: Voorburg Cricket Club, The Hague

Date and Time: Wednesday, 9th July, 14:30

Umpires: Russell Warren (ENG), Roland Black (IRE), and Aidan Seaver (IRE)

Referee: Denavon Hayles (WI)

Squads:

Scotland Squad: George Munsey, Brandon McMullen, Richie Berrington (c), Finlay McCreath, Michael Leask, Matthew Cross (w), Christopher McBride, Chris Greaves, Mark Watt, Jack Jarvis, Safyaan Sharif, Jasper Davidson, Liam Naylor, Mackenzie Jones, and Charlie Cassell.

Italy Squad: Emilio Gay, Justin Mosca, Joe Burns (c), Harry Manenti, Grant Stewart, Marcus Campopiano (w), Anthony Mosca, Jaspreet Singh, Crishan Kalugamage, Thomas Draca, Zain Ali, Ben Manenti, Gian Meade, Damith Kosala, Syed Naqvi.

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ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier, Guernsey vs. Netherlands match details:

Match: 8

Venue: Voorburg Cricket Club, The Hague

Date and Time: Wednesday, 9th July, 19:30

Umpires: Aidan Seaver (IRE), Russell Warren (ENG), and Roland Black (IRE)

Referee: Denavon Hayles (WI)

Squads:

Netherlands Squad: Michael Levitt, Max O'Dowd, Zach Lion Cachet, Scott Edwards (w/c), Bas de Leede, Noah Croes, Teja Nidamanuru, Roelof van der Merwe, Kyle Klein, Aryan Dutt, Daniel Doram, Paul van Meekeren, Saqib Zulfiqar, Hidde Overdijk, and Ryan Klein.

Guernsey Squad: Ben Fitchet, Martin Dale Bradley, Tom Nightingale, Matthew Stokes, Oliver Nightingale (c), Isaac Damarell (w), Adam Martel, Luke Thomas Bichard, Anthony Stokes, Harry Johnson, Charles Birch, Ben Ferbrache, Declan Martel, Nathan Le Tissier, Alex Bushell, Josh Butler, Charlie Forshaw, and Oliver Clapham.

After a thrilling win over the Netherlands, Scotland is ready to take on the table toppers of the European group, Italy. Through their all-round team performance, Scotland got the win over the Orange brigade. In their next encounter today, which is against Italy, they will try to do the same. Oli Haris, Chris Greaves, Charlie Tear, and other players will again try to play useful parts as they did in their last encounter. Greaves got the man of the match award for his 3-wicket bowling spell to dismantle the Dutch side.

 As of now, Italy and Scotland both have3 points after playing a couple of matches. But with a +2.971 Net Run Rate, Italy is still leading the race. Scotland will look to grab a win with a big margin to better their NRR, which is now +0.300. Italy has started their qualification phase with a big win versus Guernsey. Today's match between Italy and Scotland will be live on the internet at no cost.

Match Details 

Italy vs Scotland, ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier, 2025, Live Streaming: icc.tv

Series: ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier, 2025

Match: 7

Venue: Voorburg Cricket Club, The Hague

Date and Time: Wednesday, 9th July, 14:30

Umpires: Russell Warren (ENG), Roland Black (IRE), and Aidan Seaver (IRE)

Referee: Denavon Hayles (WI)

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Squads:

Scotland Squad: George Munsey, Brandon McMullen, Richie Berrington (c), Finlay McCreath, Michael Leask, Matthew Cross (w), Christopher McBride, Chris Greaves, Mark Watt, Jack Jarvis, Safyaan Sharif, Jasper Davidson, Liam Naylor, Mackenzie Jones, and Charlie Cassell.

Italy Squad: Emilio Gay, Justin Mosca, Joe Burns (c), Harry Manenti, Grant Stewart, Marcus Campopiano (w), Anthony Mosca, Jaspreet Singh, Crishan Kalugamage, Thomas Draca, Zain Ali, Ben Manenti, Gian Meade, Damith Kosala, Syed Naqvi.

The 35-year-old former Australian cricketer, especially popular as a Test opener, has been named as the captain of the ICC Associate Member, Italy national cricket team.

Brisbane-born Joe Burns, who last played for Australia in 2020, became eligible to play for his mother’s heritage Italy. Last June, Burns made his debut for Italy. Without a big surprise, Burns has been named as the captain of Italy. 

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Italian cricket has enormous potential: Joe Burns

Burns stated, "I am honoured 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."

Joe Burns: Only T20I centurion for Italy

While Burns never played for Australia in the T20I format, he finally made his T20I debut last June during their match against Luxembourg in the Sub-Regional Europe Qualifier for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. On his T20I debut, Burns scored 58 runs. 

Italy qualified for the Europe Reginal Final for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after finishing as the champions in the Sub-Regional Europe Qualifier A. 

The Sub-Regional Europe Qualifier A ended with Italy’s victory by 160 runs against Romania. In that final, Burns scored 108 not out off 55 balls and became the first Italian cricketer to record a T20I century. 

Joe Burns: Hit four Test centuries

From December 2014 to December 2020, Burns played 23 Tests and six ODIs for Australia. The right-handed batter scored 1442 runs in 40 Test innings with an average of 36.97. He hit four centuries and seven half-centuries in his Test career, including his highest Test innings score of 180 during the 2019 Canberra Test against Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, in his ODI career, Burns scored 146 runs in six matches with an average of 24.33, including one half-century.