 James Franklin and Burns (right) in 2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Joseph Anthony Burns | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1989-09-06)6 September 1989 (age 36) Herston,Queensland, Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 182 cm (6 ft 0 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-armmedium | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Batter | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relations | Harold Burns (Great uncle) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National sides | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Test debut (cap 441) | 26 December 2014 Australia v India | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Test | 26 December 2020 Australia v India | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ODI debut (cap 207) | 27 August 2015 Australia v Ireland | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last ODI | 13 September 2015 Australia v England | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T20I debut (cap 43) | 9 June 2024 Italy v Luxembourg | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last T20I | 11 July 2025 Italy v Netherlands | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010/11–2023/24 | Queensland | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012/13–2020/21 | Brisbane Heat | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013 | Leicestershire | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | Middlesex | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | Glamorgan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | Lancashire | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021/22–2023/24 | Melbourne Stars | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source:ESPNcricinfo,9 March 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Joseph Anthony Burns (born 6 September 1989) is anAustralian–Italian cricketer. He previously played for theAustralia national cricket team,Melbourne Stars in theBig Bash League andQueensland in Australian domestic cricket. In May 2024, he announced his move to Italy as a tribute for his late brother Dominic, who died in February 2024 and in the hopes of playing for Italy in the2026 T20 World Cup. Under his leadership, theItaly national cricket team are set to make their maiden appearance in an ICC event in the upcoming2026 T20 World Cup.
Burns' parents were both school teachers. He was a good cricketer as a child, though not a prodigy. "I finished uni, thinking I was going to get a job in business," he said. "I didn't play cricket with the ambition of playing professionally … but you make a few runs, go up the grades, and it all happened so quickly from there."[1] Burns grew up inBrisbane's northern suburbs and attendedNudgee College.[2]
Burns made an exceptional start in hisSheffield Shield debut againstSouth Australia, scoring 140 in February 2011.[3]
In the2011–12 Sheffield Shield season, Burns was the fifth highest run scorer in the Australianfirst-class cricket season, scoring 781 runs.[4] This was followed by 587 runs in the2012–13 Sheffield Shield season.[5]
Burns performances resulted in a call in early 2013 up to theAustralia A to face the touring party fromEngland, where he scored 114 in a one-day game,[6] not long after being named theBradman Young Cricketer of the Year.[7]
Burns continued his good form on his return to Australia and was top scorer for theBrisbane Heat in their win overPerth Scorchers in the final of the2012–13 Big Bash League season.[8][9]
Burns performances brought him to the attention ofLeicestershire who signed him as a replacement for their overseas player,Ramnaresh Sarwan, between May and August of the 2013 County season.[10] This was curtailed in July, when a hip injury forced Burns to end his spell in England and return home to Queensland.[11]
Burns deputised for theMiddlesex captainAdam Voges during the 2015 English season.[12]
In December 2017, Burns scored his maiden first-class double century, batting for Queensland againstSouth Australia in the2017–18 Sheffield Shield season.[13] In March 2018,Cricket Australia named Burns in theirSheffield Shield team of the year.[14] In 2019, he signed withLancashire ahead of the2019 County Championship in England,[15] but returned to Australia for personal reasons after making only one appearance.[16]
In April 2021, Burns was signed byLahore Qalandars to play in the rescheduled matches in the2021 Pakistan Super League.[17]
In December 2014, Burns was selected to play for Australia in theBoxing Day Test against India at theMelbourne Cricket Ground following an injury to all rounderMitchell Marsh. He batted at number 6 and scored 13 runs before being caught behind offUmesh Yadav.[18]
Burns then managed to score two half centuries (58 and 66) in his second Test at theSydney Cricket Ground.[19]
In November 2015, Burns made his first Test centuryagainst New Zealand atthe Gabba,[20] bringing up his century with two consecutive sixes off the bowling of off-spinnerMark Craig.[21]
Burns made hisOne Day International debut for Australiaagainst Ireland on 27 August 2015 inStormont,Belfast,Northern Ireland. In his ODI debut, he scored a half century.[22]
Home and away Test series against the West Indies and New Zealand in 2015–16 produced Burns two more centuries, but lean scores followed in Sri Lanka in the latter half of 2016 which resulted in Burns being dropped after the Hobart Test against South Africa in November 2016.[23][24]
On 28 March 2018, Burns was urgently recalled to the Test side following the suspensions ofSteve Smith,David Warner andCameron Bancroft forball tampering during the third Test of theAustralian 2018 Tour of South Africa.[25]
In February 2019, Burns was again recalled to the Test squad for the two match series against Sri Lanka, and opened the batting in both matches. In the first match, across both Sri Lanka innings, Burns fielded at slips and took three catches.[26][27][28] In the second match, in Canberra, Burns scored his fourth Test century, hitting 180 in the first innings.[23]
In June 2019, Burns was diagnosed with a fatigue disorder, dating back to a viral infection that he suffered in October 2018.[29] He recovered, and was recalled in the home Test series against Pakistan in November 2019,[30] scoring 97 in Australia's only innings.[31]
Burns went on to play the subsequent three Test home series against New Zealand in December 2019 and January 2020, scoring a half century in the first Test at Perth.[23] In April 2020,Cricket Australia awarded Burns with a central contract ahead of the 2020–21 season.[32][33]
In May 2024, Burns confirmed that he will be representing Italy as a tribute for his late brother. He is eligible to represent Italy through his mother's side and will now be a part of their squad for the sub regional qualifiers. He also revealed that he will be wearing the number 85 on his jersey to honor his brother as 85 was the number in the last team played.[34]
Burns debuted for Italy on June 8, againstLuxembourg as part of Italy’s2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup qualification process.[35]
In the Regional Qualifier A finals, Burns scored a century (108 not out) off 55 balls againstRomania. Italy subsequently qualified for theRegional Finals.[36]
| No. | Score | Against | Venue | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 129 |  New Zealand | The Gabba,Brisbane | 5 November 2015 | Australia won |
| 2 | 128 |  West Indies | Melbourne Cricket Ground,Melbourne | 26 December 2015 | Australia won |
| 3 | 170 | New Zealand | Hagley Oval,Christchurch | 20 February 2016 | Australia won |
| 4 | 180 |  Sri Lanka | Manuka Oval,Canberra | 1 February 2019 | Australia won |
| No. | Score | Against | Venue | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 108* |  Romania | Rome | 16 June 2024 | Italy won |