Italy’s surprising qualification for the T20 World Cup is largely due to a unique blend of heritage and passion, driven significantly by Australian expats with Italian roots.
From Sydney to Squad: The Manenti Story
Harry Manenti, named “Man of the Series” in the tournament that secured Italy’s T20 World Cup spot, truly embodies this unexpected revival. His family, originally from Italy, maintained a strong connection to cricket even after settling in Sydney.
His elder brother, Benjamin, already a regular in Australia’s first-class system, initiated the journey. A phone call inquiring about Benjamin playing for Italy quickly led to Harry joining the team a year later.
Cricket’s Unexpected Roots in Italy
Surprisingly, cricket has a long and often forgotten history in Italy, dating back to 1890. English settlers brought the sport, and it once rivaled football in popularity in major cities.
Iconic football clubs like Genoa and AC Milan even began as cricket clubs before the sport faded after the rise of fascism and World War II. Post-war, cricket quietly survived in Rome’s religious colleges, leading to the formation of teams like the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Cricket Club, largely made up of Indian and Sri Lankan priests.
The Expat Effect: Fueling the Revival
For decades, Italian migrants who settled in countries like Australia, England, and South Africa kept the game alive within their communities. In Australia, with over a million people of Italian heritage, dedicated cricket clubs flourished.
Clubs such as Rosebank in Melbourne’s JICA league, composed solely of Italians, have consistently won titles for years. This rich expatriate talent pool became a crucial resource for the Italian Cricket Federation (ICF).
Simone Gambino, ICF’s honorary president, emphasizes that this preserved “cricket culture” abroad proved more effective than trying to cultivate the game from scratch in Italy. While club-level cricket thrives due to the Asian population, the challenge remains to engage the local Italian population more deeply.
Building for the Future: The Australian Connection
Peter Di Venuto, a pivotal figure in Italian cricket in Australia, actively recruits dual citizens. His efforts, including reaching out to the Manentis, highlight a strategic focus on leveraging Australian-Italian talent for the national team.
Plans are now underway to establish academies in Australia specifically for young Italian-Australians. This initiative aims to funnel skilled players into the national team, especially with cricket’s inclusion in the Olympics providing added motivation.
Di Venuto believes that playing for Italy offers an exciting international pathway for those who might not break into the highly competitive Australian team. He notes similar interest from Italian communities in South Africa.
World Cup Dreams Take Flight
Italy’s qualification has significantly raised the team’s profile, drawing more interest from players worldwide. Harry Manenti is already dreaming big for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
He hopes to face cricketing giants like India or Australia. Playing in front of a packed stadium in India, he believes, would be “the most incredible thing that you can do in any sport in the world.”
- Italy’s T20 World Cup qualification is significantly powered by Australian players of Italian descent.
- Cricket has a long, albeit forgotten, history in Italy, even preceding football in some early clubs.
- Italian expat communities, particularly in Australia, were key in preserving and developing the sport’s culture.
- Strategic efforts are now focused on recruiting dual citizens globally and establishing academies abroad to strengthen the national team, especially with cricket’s Olympic inclusion.
This unique journey highlights how heritage and passion can reignite a sport, proving that in Italy, cricket is far more than just a game; it’s a piece of rediscovered history and a testament to global connections.
