Italian Cricket's Historic Debut: The Mosca Brothers' Journey from Sydney to T20 World Cup
In a remarkable fusion of sporting cultures, brothers Anthony and Justin Mosca are set to represent Italy in their historic T20 World Cup debut. The Sydney-born siblings, who have maintained strong ties to their Italian heritage, are bringing a touch of football legend style to the cricket field with their flowing locks inspired by Italian icons Paolo Maldini and Roberto Baggio.
From Sydney Suburbs to International Cricket
The Mosca family has called Sydney home for three generations, with the brothers growing up immersed in Australian cricket culture while maintaining their Italian roots. Their journey began with childhood dreams of wearing the "Baggy Green" for Australia, but fate had different plans as they now prepare to don the Italian jersey at cricket's premier T20 tournament.
Justin Mosca, a 31-year-old physical education teacher, has been instrumental in introducing cricket to Sydney's Vietnamese community, while Anthony Mosca, 34, works as a carpenter and woodwork teacher at a juvenile center, where he helps reshape young lives. Their professional commitments haven't deterred their cricketing ambitions, making their World Cup qualification even more remarkable.
Football Legends Inspire Cricket Style
The brothers' connection to Italian football runs deep. "We both always wanted to be like Paolo Maldini or Roberto Baggio," Anthony reveals. When Italy secured their T20 World Cup qualification, Justin immediately decided to grow his hair in homage to Maldini's iconic feathered brown locks.
"When I played football, I used to love sliding tackles because Maldini was the best at it," Justin explains. "So when there was a chance of going to the World Cup, I thought I would grow my hair like Maldini, Francesco Totti and Gennaro Gattuso. You had to have it."
A Dream Encounter at Dubai Airport
The brothers' admiration for Italian football legends took a surreal turn during their journey to Chennai for warm-up matches. While transiting through Dubai Airport, they had an unexpected encounter with Paolo Maldini himself.
"We were sitting at the airport and Maldini just walked through," Anthony recalls. "We were so awestruck that we spoke to him in English while wearing the Italian jersey. We were just frozen that even when he noticed our kit and asked about it, we didn't speak much. This photo has to go up there. Now, we have to tick off Baggio."
Balancing Cricket with Community Work
While pursuing their cricketing dreams, both brothers have established meaningful careers away from the sport. Justin, inspired by his own teachers, works with Vietnamese students who initially knew little about cricket but now celebrate his achievements.
"They're happy for me, the kids love it," Justin says. "They don't understand it, but they've seen me on TV once or twice, and think I'm famous. I've got to try and tell them I wouldn't be working if I was."
Anthony's journey has been particularly transformative. After 12 years as a carpenter and builder, he transitioned to teaching woodwork at a juvenile facility. "I feel a little bit for them," he shares. "A lot of them come from probably a broken home. They've just made some probably poor decisions in their life, probably from not having parents that were guiding them correctly, so to speak, but that's my aim. I enjoy trying to get them on the right path."
Historic Match at Eden Gardens
The Mosca brothers are particularly excited about their February 16 match against England at Kolkata's iconic Eden Gardens. "It's two-fold, Italy vs England and part of Australia vs England as well," Justin notes, highlighting their dual cultural connections.
Drawing inspiration from their coach Kevin O'Brien, who famously helped Ireland defeat England in a World Cup match, the brothers remain optimistic about creating their own historic moment. "You look at those stories, he's in the history books," Justin says. "You see that and go, 'it can happen.'"
From Christmas cricket matches in Sydney to representing Italy on cricket's biggest stage, the Mosca brothers' journey represents a beautiful intersection of heritage, sport, and personal dedication. As they prepare to walk out at Eden Gardens, they carry not just their cricketing skills but also the style and spirit of Italian football legends who inspired their journey.
