Sam Perry

The Azzurri.

And a good portion of their arrival at this World Cup is down to four blokes we're about to talk to today who have piled into one room onto one screen.

We've got the Minenti brothers, Ben and Harry, the Mosca brothers, AJ and Justin.

Now, I just want to say from the top, there's a lot of people who are going to do stories on these guys.

They've done stories on these guys.

There's going to be, you know, heartwarming stories about Italy and how good it is.

And it's going to be a bit condescending and it's going to be a little bit, you know, like head patty.

These guys shouldn't be treated like that in any way.

And I want to explain why.

They have a particularly special relationship to the grade cricketer.

Each of them are like famous, strong contributors to and former members of the Sydney Tigers Cricket Club in Sydney grade cricket, formerly Balmain.

which is where I played the majority of my grade cricket, and it's a club that, if we're honest, is a club whose characters and culture formed about 90% of the original inspiration for the grade cricketer.

So we all share something in common of having played at this debauched place, and none of these guys deserve any kind of heartwarming conversation in any way.

I actually played with AJ.

I'm sure he remembers it as well.

So, AJ – oh, firstly, boys, welcome.

Welcome to the Great Cricketer.

Thanks, boys.

Thanks for having us.

Nice low octave voice there.