Former Proteas all-rounder JJ Smuts is relishing the opportunity to play for Italy at the T20 World Cup.
Three weeks before Italy played their first-ever T20I in 2019, Smuts was smashing runs for the Warriors in South African domestic cricket. What he did not realise was that a family discovery around that time would later open an unexpected international door.
“My wife, Judy, started looking into her Italian heritage,” Smuts told the Sunday Times. “Her great-grandfather came to South Africa from Italy but never lost his citizenship. That entitled her to an Italian passport, and then I applied through marriage.”
In 2023, Italian cricket officials made contact with Smuts, who played the last of his 13 T20Is for the Proteas in 2021.
“The timing wasn’t right at that stage,” he said. “It was the first season of the SA20 and I was commuting between Gqeberha and Durban. It was a lot to ask of the family.
“When Italy qualified [for the World Cup], they reached out again. With my workload reduced because I’m no longer playing first-class cricket, the chance to play in a World Cup was too enticing.”
Smuts linked up with the squad late last year.
“I went in with a very open mind and I was blown away,” he said. “I thought it might be very amateurish, but there are some local Italian players who really impressed me.
“There are also guys who grew up in Australia, played grade cricket, and some have played in the Big Bash.
“I’m learning that Italian bond. It’s a team that comes from very diverse cultural backgrounds. Coming from SA, I’m used to it. It’s quite exciting because there’s lots of different things bringing us together and making us unique. It gives us a lot of strength as a team because we are all coming together for one cause, which is really cool.”
Italy begin their maiden T20 World Cup campaign against Scotland at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on 9 February. They also face Nepal, England and the West Indies in Group C.
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