Latest news with #NorthernFederals
India.com
a day ago
- Sport
- India.com
Who is Joe Burns? Australian Cricketer Who Led Italy to First T20 World Cup, Know Full Tragic Story
Joe Burns has written one of cricket's most remarkable modern fairytales by leading Italy to their first-ever qualification for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup to be played in India in 2026. The former Australian Test opener, now captain of Italy's national team, has not only reignited his own career but also sparked a revolution in Italian cricket. With Italy officially booking their place in the 2026 T20 World Cup, Burns' bold and emotional decision has paid off in an extraordinary way. International Career with Australia Joe Burns played 23 Test matches and 6 One Day Internationals for the Australian national cricket team between 2014 and 2020. A technically solid right-handed batsman, Burns accumulated 1,442 runs in Tests at an average of 36.97. His international career featured four centuries, including a memorable ton against New Zealand in 2015 and a career-best 180 against Sri Lanka in 2019. Despite these performances, his time in the Australian setup came to a halt amid stiff competition and inconsistent form. He never represented Australia in any World Cup. Personal Tragedy: The Turning Point In 2024, Joe Burns suffered a devastating personal loss, the passing of his brother, Dominic Burns, in Brisbane. Dominic was a dedicated club cricketer, representing the Northern Federals in sub-district cricket. His jersey bore the number 85, which was both his birth year and shirt number. This emotional blow became the defining moment of Joe's career. Burns decided to honour his brother by connecting with his roots. With maternal grandparents from Calabria, Italy, he chose to represent the Italian national team. In a heartfelt Instagram post, he revealed that he would wear the number 85 jersey for Italy in tribute to Dominic. "Logically and emotionally, it just felt right," Burns later said. Leading Italy to Historic World Cup Qualification Appointed as Italy's T20I captain in late 2024, Burns quickly set about transforming the team's mindset and performance. Under his leadership, Italy advanced through the sub-regional and regional European qualifiers. Burns himself led from the front, with his standout performance being an unbeaten 108 off 55 balls against Romania. Italy's most crucial moment came when they defeated traditional European powerhouse Scotland to seal their place in the 2026 T20 World Cup. The victory marked Italy as the 25th nation in history to qualify for the global tournament. Burns' influence was not limited to runs and tactics he brought with him a culture of professionalism, discipline, and belief that turned Italy from underdogs into contenders. 'It's More Than Just Cricket' Wearing his brother's number 85, Joe Burns made it clear that his mission extended far beyond the pitch. 'It's more than just cricket,' he said. 'It's about honouring family, heritage, and building something that lasts beyond us.' His journey became both a personal tribute and a national triumph. A Leader with Global Pedigree Joe Burns' transition from Australian Test cricket to leading Italy on the world stage stands as an inspiring story of resilience, identity, and legacy. Italy's qualification for the 2026 T20 World Cup is not just a sporting milestone it's a symbol of emotional strength, leadership, and the belief that greatness can be reignited in the most unexpected ways. As the cricketing world sets its sights on the next T20 World Cup, Italy will walk in as proud debutants, led by a man who turned personal grief into global achievement. Joe Burns has given Italian cricket a historic first and shown the world that sometimes, the biggest wins come from the heart.
Time of India
a day ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Why the former Australia player Joe Burns switched to Italy before leading them to maiden T20 World Cup spot
Joe Burns captained Italy to their first-ever T20 World Cup, which will be played in India and Sri Lanka in 2026. (Image: X/Fancode) Former Australia Test cricketer Joe Burns has made history by leading Italy to their first-ever T20 World Cup qualification for 2026. Burns, who switched allegiance to Italy in 2024 following his brother Dominic's death, used his Italian heritage through his maternal grandparents from Calabria to spark a cricket revolution in Italy. Burns, who played 23 Tests for Australia from 2014 to 2020, had a solid international career. He scored 1,442 runs with four centuries at an average of 36.97. His career with Australia ended due to tough competition and drops in form. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The loss of his brother Dominic in Brisbane in 2024 changed everything for Burns. He made an emotional choice to play for Italy. To honour his brother, who was a passionate club cricketer for Northern Federals, Burns wears jersey number 85 - the same number his brother used, which was also his birth year. As Italy's T20I captain, Burns quickly changed the team's fortunes. He led them through European qualifiers with impressive performances. His best game came against Romania, where he scored 108 not out from just 55 balls. The team beat strong sides like Scotland to become the 25th nation to make it to the T20 World Cup. Burns has brought professional standards and winning attitude to Italian cricket. He's focused on building a lasting legacy. As he recently said, "It's more than just cricket. It's about honouring family, heritage, and building something that lasts beyond us." Catch Manika Batra's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 3. Watch Here!
