John Davison, previously the captain of Canada and an Australian state cricketer, has been appointed as the T20 International coach for Italy. This appointment comes as Italy aims to secure a spot in the 2026 T20 World Cup, which will be hosted in India and Sri Lanka.
Davison will be working in conjunction with Italy’s recently appointed captain, Joe Burns, who formerly played as an opener for Australia. Italy is set to participate in the European Regional Finals of the T20 World Cup qualifying tournament in the Netherlands, scheduled for late June. This tournament will determine two teams that will advance to the main World Cup event in early 2026. Competing alongside Italy will be the Netherlands, Scotland, Guernsey, and Jersey.
“I am very excited and honored to be named the head coach for the Italian T20 men’s program,” Davison stated. “It didn’t take much persuasion once I learned about the players and the staff involved.”
Davison added, “I have personally experienced the excitement of qualifying for World Cups as a player for Canada, and I am eager to recreate that experience with the talented and dedicated players and staff representing Italy.”
A highlight of Davison’s playing career in the World Cup was his remarkable innings of 111 runs off 76 balls against the West Indies in Centurion in 2003.
Since his retirement from playing, Davison has transitioned into coaching, specializing as a spin-bowling coach and consultant. He has worked with prominent teams, including Australia, and has provided guidance to notable players such as Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Swepson, and Matt Kuhnemann.
Davison’s collaboration with Joe Burns will be a key aspect of Italy’s strategy. Joe Burns, who also played for Queensland and Australia, began representing Italy in May of the previous year, qualifying through his mother’s Italian heritage.
In addition to Burns, Ben and Harry Manenti have also played for Italy. It is understood that Jake Doran and Tim Ward from Tasmania are being considered for the qualifiers due to their Italian heritage, although they are currently awaiting approval to play. Matthew Fotia, a former fast bowler from Victoria, and Jason Ralston, who has represented Australia Under-19s, are also potential team members.
Upon being named captain, Burns expressed, “I am honored to take on this role and represent Italy on the international stage. For me, it’s a connection to my family’s roots. Italian cricket has significant potential, and I am enthusiastic about contributing to its development. Together with my teammates, we are dedicated to achieving ambitious goals and making our fans proud.”
