Former Australia worldwide batter Joe Burns has been named as captain of Italy’s T20 crew, having shifted his allegiance to the European nation after representing the Saggy Greens in 23 Checks.
The 35-year-old had shifted his allegiances to Italy in Could 2024 after the Brisbane-born participant grew to become eligible to play for Italy by way of his maternal grandparents, who have been initially from Calabria.
The precise-hand batter made his debut for Italy in June 8 within the match in opposition to Luxembourg within the regional qualifiers for the World Cup T20 2026.
“I’m honoured to tackle this position and characterize Italy on the worldwide stage,” Burns mentioned in an announcement after the announcement.
“For me, it’s a return to my household’s roots. Italian cricket has monumental potential and I’m excited to contribute to its development. Along with my team-mates, we’re working to attain formidable targets and make our followers proud,” the participant added.
Burns aggregated 1,442 runs in 40 Check innings for Australia, together with 4 centuries, with a median of 36.97.
Curiously, he remained not out on a 63-ball 51 within the second innings of the Australian innings in the course of the Adelaide Check of 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, when India was all out for 36 in its second essay.
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After his transfer to Italy, Burns has appeared in 5 T20 Internationals the place he has scored 211 runs at a superb common of 70.33 and a strike fee of 144.52.
In Italy’s final T20 match, he scored an unbeaten 108 off 55 balls, main Italy to victory over Romania within the ICC Males’s T20 World Cup regional Europe qualifier Group A.
Burns is a daily in franchise-based T20 cricket, with Dubai Capitals signing him up for the upcoming season of the UAE’s ILT20.