Cricket's New Frontier: Thomas Draca's Italian Journey
Cricket in Italy hardly makes headlines, but Thomas Jack Draca is changing all that. Born on October 23, 2000, Draca just put Italian cricket on the global map by becoming the first Italian player to register for the IPL 2025 auction. In a sport dominated by powerhouses like India and Australia, his decision is more than a personal move—it's a bold marker for the rise of cricket in places few would expect.
Draca’s cricket story didn’t begin on the cobbled streets of Rome or Naples; it started in Sydney. At just seven, he joined the Blacktown Cricket Club, sharpening skills in a town where cricket is almost a way of life. It wasn’t long before talent scouts in South Australia noticed his pace and potential. By 20, Draca had joined their emerging cricket pathway—a program known for turning aspiring bowlers into serious, competitive threats on the professional circuit.
Early Success and a Steep Climb
The year 2024 was a big one for Draca. He made his T20 International debut for Italy on June 9 against Luxembourg in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Sub Regional Europe Qualifier Group A. Bowler-friendly conditions suited him—he grabbed 2 wickets for just 15 runs in his allotted four overs. Over the next three matches, he showed the opening spell was no fluke. His eight wickets in four games included a standout 3/9 demolition of the Isle of Man, suddenly making European cricket fans take notice.
Italy isn’t usually a name you hear at the T20 World Cup, but with Draca leading the attack, dreams of qualifying seem a little less far-fetched. Through his mother, who hails from Bellosguardo near Naples, Draca qualifies to represent Italy. Now, the goal isn’t just to be a squad player—he wants to be the central cog in Italy’s cricket ambitions and inspire kids beyond the football fields of Milan or Florence to try their hand at cricket.
What sets Draca apart isn’t only his stats. He’s been investing in top-tier coaching, working closely with a strength & conditioning pro tied to Carlos Brathwaite—the West Indian all-rounder famous for his four last-over sixes in a World T20 final. This level of preparation speaks of someone serious about making the jump to the franchise level, where demands on fitness and pace are brutal.
- Thomas Draca impressed for Brampton Wolves in the Global T20 Canada, picking up 11 wickets in just five games.
- He rocked Surrey’s batsmen with a clinical 3/30, and later rattled Mississauga for just 3/10—consistent form against established players from around the globe.
- Draca’s influences read like a cricket fan’s wish-list: Hardik Pandya, the electric Indian all-rounder, for his swagger and versatility, and Dennis Lillee, the Australian pace legend, whose aggression and control are echoed in Draca’s own bowling approach.
The IPL 2025 auction, set for November in Jeddah, will be Draca’s big test. Breaking through from a non-traditional country is tough—the IPL auction rooms are full of established stars and emerging prodigies from the sport’s biggest nations. But if the selectors take a punt on someone outside the usual circuit, Draca could become a pioneer. His journey offers more than just a shot at fame—it’s a sign that cricket’s boundaries are shifting. Now, thanks to Draca, a kid picking up a bat in Naples or Milan might believe anything is possible.