File photo of Joe Burns© X (formerly Twitter)
Former Australian Test opener Joe Burns announced on Tuesday that he will play for Italy in their bid to qualify for the 2026 T20 World Cup in memory of his late brother. The 34-year-old Burns, who is of Italian descent, will wear the number 85 on his back in his new home country – the year of his brother's birth and the same number his brother wore in local Australian cricket. Burns, who lost his brother Dominic in February, played 23 Test matches for Australia between 2014 and 2020. “This isn't just a number, this isn't just a jersey,” Burns wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of his Italy team top wearing the number 85.
“This is for the people who will be proudly watching from above,” Burns said. Heartbroken by his brother's death, she added, “I feel like a part of my soul will be gone forever, but I know this shirt will carry on his spirit and give me strength.”
Burns is due to represent Italy, a weak cricket nation, in regional qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
“The fields of Rome may be a long way from the Gabba or the MCG or the front gardens of the houses we grew up in,” he wrote.
“But it feels like I'm coming home. Grazie.”
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Topics mentioned in this article
