Latest news with #JoeBurns
News18
22-07-2025
- Sport
- News18
I'd Love To Play First Game Of T20 World Cup Against India: Italy Captain Joe Burns
Italy will be playing in their maiden T20 World Cup when the competition will be held in India next year. After leading Italy to their first-ever T20 World Cup qualification, Australia-born captain Joe Burns is eager to 'jump in at the deep end" by facing defending champions India in the opening match of the showpiece event next year. Italy secured a spot in the event in India and Sri Lanka with a strong performance in the European Qualifiers concluded earlier this month. The World Cup draws are yet to be finalised. 'You come to your first World Cup and you want the big stage. I'd love to be playing India in the first game in India," Burns told ICC Digital. 'I'd love to be playing Australia, England, or all the top teams. That's the experience you're after. You want to test yourself, you want to really jump in at the deep end," he added. Burns described qualifying for the tournament as a 'surreal" feeling. 'A lot of planning and preparation went into it (qualifying). So it's satisfying from that aspect of the cricket side as well," he said. He mentioned that the entire process was emotional for him and the rest of the team. 'We did a one-week training camp in Rome, one week in the UK, and I told them on the first day in Rome, 'I don't care if we're playing Luxembourg in the first Sub-Regional game or India in a World Cup Final. I just want us to be the most prepared team in world cricket,'" he said. A former Australia player with four Test centuries, Burns joined the Italian squad thanks to his mother's heritage. This helped him through a personally challenging phase, including the death of his brother Dominic. 'For me, it was an opportunity to unite family and cricket, and I think for our group, everyone has a really similar story to that. 'We did a great culture piece in Rome (in the build-up to the Qualifier), about who we are, where we come from, and understanding each other's families and sacrifices made," he said. Former Canada international John Davidson is the head coach of the team, with ex-Scotland international Dougie Brown and Ireland star Kevin O'Brien as his assistants. 'I've seen a group of players who have grown and developed into a really close-knit group," O'Brien said. 'That can be difficult with players coming from different parts of the world, but the common joining force with this squad is the Italian heritage. 'I've seen the guys improve, and that is not only with their cricket skills, it's all the other things that you need to be successful in International cricket, like attitude, fitness, awareness, cricket smarts, and work ethic," he added. With PTI Inputs view comments First Published: July 22, 2025, 15:49 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
NDTV
22-07-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
"Love To Play Against India": Italy Coach Reveals Special Wish After T20 World Cup Qualification
Having led Italy to their maiden World Cup qualification, the European team's Australia-born captain Joe Burns wants to "jump in at the deep end" during the T20 showpiece next year by taking on defending champions India in the opening match itself. Italy made the cut for the event in India and Sri Lanka next year with a solid showing in the European Qualifiers that concluded earlier this month. The draws for the World Cup are still some time away from being finalised. "You come to your first World Cup and you want the big stage. I'd love to be playing India in the first game in India," Burns told ICC Digital. "I'd love to be playing Australia, England or all the top teams, that's the experience that you're after. You want to test yourself, you want to really jump in at the deep end," he added. Burns said qualifying for the tournament was still a "surreal" feeling for him. "A lot of planning and preparation went into it (qualifying). So it's satisfying from that aspect from the cricket side as well," he said. He said the entire process was emotional for him and for the rest of the team. "We did one week training camp in Rome, one week in the UK, and I said to them the first day in Rome, 'I don't care if we're playing Luxembourg in the first Sub-Regional game or India in a World Cup Final. I just want us to be the most prepared team in world cricket'..., A former Australia player with four Test centuries to his credit, Burns made it to the Italian squad due to his mother's heritage. It helped him pull through a personally challenging phase which included dealing with the death of his brother Dominic. "For me, it was an opportunity to unite family and cricket, and I think for our group, everyone has a really similar story to that. "We did a great culture piece in Rome (in the build-up to the Qualifier), about who we are, where we come from, understanding each other's families and sacrifices made...," he said. Former Canada international John Davidson is the head coach of the team, with ex-Scotland international Dougie Brown and Ireland star Kevin O'Brien as his assistants. "I've seen a group of players who have grown and developed into a really close-knit group," O'Brien said. "That can be difficult with players coming from different parts of the world but the common joining force with this squad is the Italian heritage. "I've seen the guys improve, and that is not only with their cricket skills, it's all the other things that you need to be successful in International cricket, like attitude, fitness, awareness, cricket smarts, and work ethic," he added. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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Business Standard
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Business Standard
Italy skipper Joe Burns hopes to play vs India in 2026 T20 WC opener
Having led Italy to their maiden World Cup qualification, the European team's Australia-born captain Joe Burns wants to "jump in at the deep end" during the T20 showpiece next year by taking on defending champions India in the opening match itself. Italy made the cut for the event in India and Sri Lanka next year with a solid showing in the European Qualifiers that concluded earlier this month. The draws for the World Cup are still some time away from being finalised. "You come to your first World Cup and you want the big stage. I'd love to be playing India in the first game in India," Burns told ICC Digital. "I'd love to be playing Australia, England or all the top teams, that's the experience that you're after. You want to test yourself, you want to really jump in at the deep end," he added. Burns said qualifying for the tournament was still a "surreal" feeling for him. "A lot of planning and preparation went into it (qualifying). So it's satisfying from that aspect from the cricket side as well," he said. He said the entire process was emotional for him and for the rest of the team. "We did one week training camp in Rome, one week in the UK, and I said to them the first day in Rome, 'I don't care if we're playing Luxembourg in the first Sub-Regional game or India in a World Cup Final. I just want us to be the most prepared team in world cricket'..., A former Australia player with four Test centuries to his credit, Burns made it to the Italian squad due to his mother's heritage. It helped him pull through a personally challenging phase which included dealing with the death of his brother Dominic. "For me, it was an opportunity to unite family and cricket, and I think for our group, everyone has a really similar story to that. "We did a great culture piece in Rome (in the build-up to the Qualifier), about who we are, where we come from, understanding each other's families and sacrifices made...," he said. Former Canada international John Davidson is the head coach of the team, with ex-Scotland international Dougie Brown and Ireland star Kevin O'Brien as his assistants. "I've seen a group of players who have grown and developed into a really close-knit group," O'Brien said. "That can be difficult with players coming from different parts of the world but the common joining force with this squad is the Italian heritage. "I've seen the guys improve, and that is not only with their cricket skills, it's all the other things that you need to be successful in International cricket, like attitude, fitness, awareness, cricket smarts, and work ethic," he added.
New Indian Express
22-07-2025
- Sport
- New Indian Express
Love to play against India in first game of T20 World Cup next year: Italy captain Joe Burns
DUBAI: Having led Italy to their maiden World Cup qualification, the European team's Australia-born captain Joe Burns wants to "jump in at the deep end" during the T20 showpiece next year by taking on defending champions India in the opening match itself. Italy made the cut for the event in India and Sri Lanka next year with a solid showing in the European Qualifiers that concluded earlier this month. The draws for the World Cup are still some time away from being finalised. "You come to your first World Cup and you want the big stage. I'd love to be playing India in the first game in India," Burns told ICC Digital. "I'd love to be playing Australia, England or all the top teams, that's the experience that you're after. You want to test yourself, you want to really jump in at the deep end," he added. Burns said qualifying for the tournament was still a "surreal" feeling for him. "A lot of planning and preparation went into it (qualifying). So it's satisfying from that aspect from the cricket side as well," he said. He said the entire process was emotional for him and for the rest of the team. "We did one week training camp in Rome, one week in the UK, and I said to them the first day in Rome, 'I don't care if we're playing Luxembourg in the first Sub-Regional game or India in a World Cup Final. I just want us to be the most prepared team in world cricket'."
India Today
22-07-2025
- Sport
- India Today
Really proud of this group: Joe Burns emotional after leading Italy to T20 World Cup
Joe Burns, a former Australian Test opener with four centuries to his name, has found a second cricketing life in the blue of Italy — one filled with heart, heritage, and history in the making. Proudly guiding Italy to their first-ever qualification for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, Burns described the achievement as one of the most emotional and meaningful moments of his cricketing 35, Burns played 23 Tests for Australia between 2014 and 2020. He qualified to represent Italy last year through his grandparents, embracing his roots and stepping into a leadership role that few expected but many have now come to admire. Appointed captain of the Italian side, Burns led the team through an emotional and strategic campaign to qualify for the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka — Italy's first-ever appearance at a senior men's global ICC event."It's not lost on us the magnitude of the impact we can have on Italian cricket. 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," Burns told BBC Sport. Burns describes the journey as 'surreal,' but the results were anything but accidental. Italy entered the European Regional Final in The Hague alongside Scotland, the Netherlands, Jersey and Guernsey — all chasing just two qualification spots. Italy impressed throughout, dominating key matches and displaying tactical awareness well beyond what many had expected from an Associate side."We did one week of training in Rome, one week in the UK, and I said to them on the first day in Rome: 'I don't care if we're playing Luxembourg in the first Sub-Regional game or India in a World Cup Final — I just want us to be the most prepared team in world cricket.' That's something we can control, something that doesn't require any skill," Burns campaign included a confident win over Guernsey and a crucial, clinical defence of 167 against tournament favourites Scotland — a performance that all but sealed their qualification. Though they lost their final game to the Netherlands, Italy had already done the math. Even a narrow defeat would be enough to see them through. Burns, fully aware of the stakes, ensured his team focused on meeting the net run rate requirement."We started trying to win, but when it wasn't going to plan, we shifted. It became about limiting the damage. The spinners, Crishan Kalugamage and Ben Manenti, really brought the game back for us," he Burns, this campaign has been about much more than cricket. His shirt number, 85, is a tribute to his late brother Dominic. His decision to represent Italy is rooted in family history — his grandparents were Italian, and his nonna was a key figure in his early grew up with Italian traditions, and this opportunity has helped me connect with my heritage. My nonna watched me play for Australia and would always ask why I was hitting the ball in the air! I know she'd be proud now," he wider impact is what drives him."We're trying to create a legacy. This is about more than just one tournament — it's about what Italian cricket can become in the future," Burns over 100 clubs and 3,500 registered players, cricket in Italy is growing. Burns hopes this World Cup qualification will act as a catalyst for greater support, improved infrastructure, and expanded Italy prepare to greet cricketing giants India and Sri Lanka next year, their captain has a clear message: they are no longer outsiders. They're here to compete — and to build something that lasts.- Ends
