Former Australia Test cricketer Joe Burns on June 16 entered the elite list of batters who have scored a century for two countries in international cricket. In the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Sub Regional Europe Qualifier Group A clash, Burns smashed an unbeaten 55-ball 108 against Romania in Rome.
Burns shared a 106-run opening partnership with Justin Mosca who scored 30-ball 72. While Anthony Mosca (18-ball 31) and Harry Manenti (11-ball 15) contributed with cameos, Burns held on to end end. He hit 12 fours and four sixes in his 108-run knock to help Italy post 244/4 on the board. Burns became the first Italy batter to score a century in T20Is.
In the run chase, of 245, no batter apart from Romania openers Taranjeet Singh (19-ball 31) and Adrian Nicholas Lascu (26-ball 17) scored in double digits. Chrishan Kalugamage bagged three wickets as Romania were bundled out for 84 in the 18th over. Italy beat Romania by a big margin of 160 runs.
So far, Burns has played five T20Is for Italy. He has scored 211 runs from three innings at an average of 70.33. He scored a half-century on his T20I debut against Luxembourg.
Burns enters elite list of batters
Burns is the sixth batter to score a century for two countries in international cricket. Kepler Wessels did it for Australia and South Africa. Eoin Morgan and Ed Joyce achieved the feat playing for England and Ireland. Mark Chapman has reached three figures in international cricket for Hong Kong and New Zealand. Another England batter on the list is Gary Ballance who hit a century for Zimbabwe as well.
Why Burns is playing for Italy?
The 34-year-old is playing for Italy to honour his late brother, Dominic, who passed away in February 2024. He is sporting the same jersey number (85) as his brother's.
"This isn't just a number and this isn't just a jersey. This is for the people who I know will be looking down proudly from above," he wrote on his Instagram account with a photo of Dominic’s jersey as he played club cricket in Italy.
"In February of this year my brother sadly passed away. 85 was his number in the last team he played (and his birth year) for the mighty Northern Federals in sub-districts.
"The days, weeks and months since my brother's death have been the toughest I could ever imagine. I'm not too proud to admit that it's been a daily battle that I often lose.
"While a part of my soul feels like it will always be missing, I know this shirt will carry on his spirit and give me strength.
“It's the hours playing as kids and connection with him that taught me to love this game.”
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