T20 World Cup: Italy ready for Nepal test

None of the 15 squad members were born in Italy and only a few are fluent in the language.

Several players hold Italian passports or qualify because of a relative, and some people have baulked at the Italian Cricket Federation casting their net so wide rather than concentrating on developing more homegrown players.

South African born and South African capped (six ODIs and 16 T20Is between 2017 and 2021) all-rounder JJ Smuts will play for Italy during the tournament by dint of his marriage but has never even stepped foot in the country.

“People can have their opinion but we’ve got a real togetherness,” says captain Wayne Madsen, speaking before his side’s opening match against Scotland on Monday, which saw him dislocate his shoulder and his team soundly beaten.

The 42-year-old South African born batter is club captain at Derbyshire and has a wealth of experience with teams around the globe. Even so, this group of players has had a real effect on him.

“That heritage and the journeys that guys have gone on to get here, there’s a bond which is pretty hard to describe outside of the feeling that we get as a group,” said Madsen.

“It really is probably our biggest strength. Everyone’s got a story to tell in terms of how they got to this position and everyone’s is unique. Whether it is guys who have grown up in Italy or guys with grandparents who moved away many years ago. We’ve had some really powerful conversations, it has really bonded us.”

For Madsen and Davison, success on the pitch in this tournament is part of a wider plan to build on the growing cricketing roots in Italy.

“We want to win games and we know and believe that we can. If we can finish in the top eight, that’ll change the lives of a lot of our cricketers and put Italian cricket on the map” says Madsen.

“I think for us, the main thing is leaving a legacy in Italy and the platform to develop the game further in the country.”