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Joe Burns

James Franklin and Joe Burns
James Franklin and Joe Burns Image: Wikimedia Commons. Ben Sutherland / CC BY 2.0

Joseph Anthony Burns (born 6 September 1989) is an Australian-Italian cricketer who has represented the Australia national cricket team at international level and later took up the captaincy of the Italy national cricket team. In Australian domestic cricket, he played for Queensland, and in the Big Bash League he turned out for the Melbourne Stars.

Key facts

Full name Joseph Anthony Burns
Date of birth 6 September 1989
Nationality Australian-Italian
National sides Australia; later Italy
Domestic team Queensland
Twenty20 franchise Melbourne Stars (Big Bash League)

Background

Burns built his early career in Australian cricket, featuring for Queensland in domestic competition and for the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League before earning selection for the Australia national side.

Move to Italy

In May 2024, Burns announced his decision to shift his international allegiance to Italy. He framed the move as a tribute to his late brother, Dominic, who had died in February 2024, and indicated that one of his goals was to play for Italy at the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.

Under his leadership, Italy qualified for the T20 World Cup for the first time in the country's history, marking a significant milestone for Italian cricket. However, in the lead-up to the tournament, Burns was dropped from the squad. He was replaced as captain by Wayne Madsen.

Timeline

  • 6 September 1989 – Born.
  • Played for Queensland in Australian domestic cricket and the Melbourne Stars in the BBL.
  • Represented Australia at international level.
  • February 2024 – His brother Dominic died.
  • May 2024 – Announced his move to Italian cricket.
  • Captained Italy to its first qualification for a T20 World Cup (2026 edition).
  • Subsequently dropped from the squad ahead of the tournament; replaced as captain by Wayne Madsen.

Significance

Burns's career bridges top-tier Australian cricket and the development of associate-level cricket in Europe. His captaincy played a central role in Italy reaching the global T20 stage for the first time, an achievement that signalled the rising competitiveness of Italian cricket within the ICC framework.

References