Joe Burns, the Australian cricketer whose leadership and skill helped Italy secure their first-ever berth in a global T20 tournament, will surprisingly not feature in the forthcoming T20 World Cup. Born in Brisbane, Australia, Burns boasts an impressive international résumé, having represented his country in 23 Tests, six One-Day Internationals, and eight T20 Internationals, with his last appearance for Australia coming in 2020.
Despite stepping away from the Australian national team, Burns did not abandon cricket. Instead, he embraced a new challenge—returning to his ancestral roots in Italy. As captain, he guided Italy to historic qualification for the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup, effectively transforming the Italian cricket landscape and putting the nation on the global cricketing map.
However, the Italian Cricket Federation confirmed yesterday that Burns will not be part of the Italian squad for the World Cup, set to commence on 7 February 2026 across India and Sri Lanka. Instead, 26-year-old Wayne Madsen, who was appointed captain last month, will lead the team. Burns will not even feature in the squad. The Federation stated:
“Madsen’s international and domestic experience will be invaluable. He has already played T20s for Italy and is central to the team’s leadership structure. Consequently, Joe Burns will not be considered for the World Cup squad.”
Further clarification revealed that while discussions were held regarding Burns’ participation, a formal contract was never finalised. Following internal, technical, and organisational evaluations, the decision to appoint Madsen as captain was confirmed.
Burns played a pivotal role in Italy’s qualification campaign, participating in Europe’s sub-regional and regional qualifiers. Italy will begin their T20 World Cup journey on 9 February in Kolkata against Bangladesh. They are placed in Group C alongside England, West Indies, and Nepal.
| Key Facts About Joe Burns and Italy T20 | |
| Birthplace | Brisbane, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian (Italian ancestry) |
| International Experience | 23 Tests, 6 ODIs, 8 T20Is for Australia |
| Italy Debut | 9 June 2024 vs Luxembourg |
| World Cup Participation | Did not make the squad |
| Italy Captain | Wayne Madsen (from Jan 2026) |
| World Cup Start | 9 Feb 2026 vs Bangladesh |
Burns’ Italian heritage traces back to his grandfather, who was displaced from Italy after World War II and settled in Australia. Burns’ personal journey took a poignant turn in 2024 when his elder brother, Dominic, passed away. In tribute, Burns posted a picture of Dominic’s No. 85 jersey on Instagram, announcing his decision to represent Italy. His debut for Italy came just days later against Luxembourg, marking the start of a remarkable, albeit brief, Italian chapter in his career.
While Burns will miss the global stage, his legacy remains indelibly etched in Italian cricket history—he is the architect who transformed Italy from an emerging side into World Cup qualifiers.