Cricket’s Cultural Comeback: How Joe Burns and Aussie expats ignited Italy’s sporting revival

Joe Burns' Italy have qualified for the T20 World Cup.

In a land where football is not just a sport but a religion, cricket is emerging once again as a sound of significance. Italy, globally synonymous with calcio (Primarily means Football or Soccer) — is witnessing an unlikely but spirited cricket revival.

Behind this renaissance lies not just a shift in sporting interest, but a return to roots, driven largely by second and third-generation Italian-Australians. Chief among them is former Australian international Joe Burns, who now leads Italy’s national team and stands as the face of its cricketing transformation.

A Captain’s Legacy in the Making

When Joe Burns was named captain of Italy’s T20 side in late 2024, few could have predicted the remarkable journey that would follow. Having represented Australia’s Test squad between 2014 and 2020, Burns played 23 Tests and 6 ODIs, registering four Test centuries and a highest score of 180. However, as form waned and national selection slipped from reach, Burns found himself on an unexpected yet emotional path, representing his maternal grandparents’ homeland, Italy.

That journey took on even deeper meaning when Burns lost his brother, Dominic, in 2024. Dominic, a passionate club cricketer, wore the jersey number 85, a symbol Joe adopted while leading Italy. “It just felt right,” he said in a personal note on social media. That sentiment transformed into purpose on the field. Under Burns’ captaincy, Italy surged through the ICC European sub-regional and regional qualifiers, defeating formidable opponents, including Scotland, to seal a historic berth in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

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It was more than a personal comeback for Burns. It was a symbolic victory for a team often overlooked on the international stage. His unbeaten 108 against Romania was a turning point, not just for the scoreboard, but for a nation’s belief.

Italian Roots, Australian Nurture

Italy’s recent cricketing success is not the result of a domestic boom but rather a well-timed return of sporting sons and daughters from abroad. A significant number of Italian-Australians, descendants of post-World War II migrants, have reconnected with their heritage by donning the blue of the Azzurri on the cricket pitch.

One such player is all-rounder Harry Manenti, named Player of the Series during the qualifiers that booked Italy’s World Cup spot. Manenti, born and raised in Sydney to a former Italian rugby player, had cricket ingrained in his life. Weekend matches with Sydney’s Italian community and the influence of his brother, Benjamin, a first-class cricketer in Australia, laid the foundation. Yet the call-up to Italy came almost serendipitously. It all began when Benjamin applied for a European passport and was contacted by the Italian cricket federation. He pointed them to Harry and just like that, two brothers were representing Italy.

Their story is emblematic of a broader movement, Italian heritage players around the world answering the call of a growing national team.

The Aussie Assist

While much of the recent momentum has come from within the player group, Italy's cricketing structure owes a debt to several Australian-based Italian expats who have worked behind the scenes to knit the diaspora into a cohesive cricketing unit.

Peter Di Venuto, brother of former Australian international Michael Di Venuto, has played a crucial role. Based in Tasmania, Peter has helped form a network of academies in Australia aimed at Italian citizens and dual nationals. His long-term vision includes tapping into players from other cricketing strongholds like South Africa and New Zealand, many of whom have Italian heritage and are eager to compete on the world stage.

“We already had a strong cricketing ecosystem in Australia,” Di Venuto noted in an interview with The Indian Express, “so it made sense to use that experience to support Italy’s growth. If making the Australian side seems far-fetched, there’s now a realistic, competitive alternative.”

This approach has paid dividends. Italy’s cricketing setup today boasts players exposed to elite training systems, a luxury not available domestically.

A History Rediscovered

While Italy’s present may be powered by its global diaspora, its cricketing past is surprisingly rich. The game first appeared on Italian shores in the late 19th century, brought by the British during a period of strong trade and diplomatic ties. Serie A football giants AC Milan and Genoa both began life as cricket clubs. In cities like Turin, Milan, and Genoa — the “industrial triangle” — cricket thrived side-by-side with football until it was pushed to the margins during the rise of fascism and later overshadowed by the post-War football boom.

Yet, even during the sport’s darkest hours in Italy, isolated efforts kept the flame alive. Religious colleges in Rome, led by English and Scottish priests, quietly kept cricket going. Today, Vatican City even fields a team, the St. Peter’s Cricket Club, largely composed of Indian and Sri Lankan clergy.

But it’s in the global Italian community where cricket truly survived. In Melbourne, teams made entirely of Italian players have dominated domestic leagues. In these households, cricket was never forgotten — just waiting for the right moment to return to its ancestral homeland.

Looking Ahead: The World Cup and Beyond

Qualification for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup has ignited hope and ambition within Italian cricket like never before. Italy will now become only the 25th nation to participate in a senior men’s ICC World Cup event — a milestone that could inspire a generation.

The team’s preparations include continued training programs in Australia, leadership from experienced players like Joe Burns and Harry Manenti, and increased collaboration with cricketing boards worldwide. The Italian Olympic Committee has also stepped in, monitoring players annually as cricket eyes its return to the Olympic program.

Italy’s cricket revival is a story of heritage, heartbreak, and hope — powered by players who left home generations ago and returned not just with skills, but with dreams. While the game may still lie in football’s long shadow, it is no longer silent. Thanks to passionate expats and a captain like Joe Burns, cricket in Italy is not just being revived — it’s being reimagined.

As the Azzurri prepare for the biggest stage in 2026, their journey stands as proof that in sport, as in life, roots can be a powerful guide — even when they lie half a world away.