John Davison announced as Italy's T20I coach with eye on T20 World Cup 2026 qualification

John Davison, former Canada captain, has been named head coach of Italy’s men’s T20I team as they aim to grab a spot at the T20 World Cup 2026 which is scheduled in India and Sri Lanka. 

In June, Italy will contest in the European Regional Finals of the T20 World Cup qualifying leg in the Netherlands, where two teams will find a place in the ICC tournament. They will face strong contenders, including Scotland, Guernsey, Jersey and the home team, Netherlands.

“I am excited and honoured to be appointed head coach of the Italian T20 men's program. I didn’t need much convincing once I learned about the players and people involved. I have experienced the thrill of qualifying for World Cups as a player for Canada, and I look forward to repeating that thrill with a diverse and dedicated group of players and staff representing Italy,” said Davison expressing his enthusiasm as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Davison is best known for smashing 111 off 76 balls against the West Indies at Centurion in the 2003 World Cup. Since his retirement, he has built a career in coaching, specializing in spin-bowling, having worked with Australia and mentored top spinners like Mitchell Swepson, Matt Kuhnemann, and Nathan Lyon.

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Davison will work with Italy’s new skipper, former Queensland and Australia opener Joe Burns, who has represented Italy since May 2024 through his maternal heritage. He expressed his pride in leading the team.

"For me, this is a return to my family’s roots. Italian cricket has enormous potential, and I am excited to contribute to its growth. Together with my teammates, we are working to achieve ambitious goals and make our fans proud,” said Burns. 

Italy’s squad boasts experienced names like Ben and Harry Manenti, while Tasmania’s Jake Doran and Tim Ward are awaiting eligibility approval. Former Victoria quick Matthew Fotia and former Australia U-19 pacer Jason Ralston are also in contention for the qualifiers, strengthening Italy’s push for a historic World Cup berth.