Bluey batter Rusty was modelled on Australia’s quirky batting great Steve Smith

As Steve Smith dominates England at Lord’s a cartoon batter who shares his technique is capturing an even bigger audience.

Steve Smith has not simply conquered England at Lord’s – he is conquering the world through the deeds of Rusty the Red Kelpie.

Rusty is the star of the latest episode of the ABC’s global smash hit animation series Bluey simply entitled Cricket.

In a rare interview, series creator Joe Brumm has revealed to this masthead Rusty’s technique was modelled on Smith’s.

The fierce pull shot, the down the ground driving and a meticulously placed cut all have traces of Smith’s game but the connection is even more deep seated.

Both are cricket nuffies and proud products of the rough n tumble, unvarnished world of backyard cricket.

(L-R) Rusty (of Bluey fame0 and Steve Smith.

Just as Smith grooved his game in the backyard of his Alford’s Point home in Sydney where plants masqueraded as fieldsmen as he faced his father from eight metres, Rusty hones his game by testing it on a potholed pitch.

Smith’s backyard blitz’s conditions him to play on all surfaces and it was no surprised to see him progress to 85 not out on a Lord’s green top on day one of the second Test.

Brumm, who grew up with Allan Border as his cricket hero, drew inspiration from sources as wide-ranging as Don Bradman and ice hockey great Wayne Gretzky for the Cricket feature.

One of the most popular scenes in the Bluey episode is Rusty grooving his cut shot to ensure he hits a wooden panel near the kitchen without threatening his mother who is working behind it.

Steve Smith will be chasing a century on day two. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

That was inspired by a story I’d heard where a football coach was describing that some of their best players were the ones who didn’t come up through highly organised clinics but rather grew up in the rough and ready, unorthodox fields and they would develop more creativity, having to adapt,’’ Brumm told this masthead.

“That and Wayne Gretzky’s upbringing weirdly were big inspirations for the episode. It also draws in Bradman’s history. In fact the pitch that Tiny plays on was based visually on Bradman’s first one.’’

Brisbane-made Bluey has become a global sensation and was the most streamed series in America in April with a staggering 737 million minutes.

Bluey’s Cricket episode conquered the world. Picture: ABC

Brumm said the prime message he was trying to get across in the Cricket episode was “kids love their parents.’’

“Cricket worked its way into every corner of my life as a kid. It was just always there. The episode uses cricket of course but it’s representative of whatever sport it is you had growing that united your family and friends.

“I only played in front yards and beaches. I wasn’t much good but I loved it. I loved all the variations of the game and the location you played in – taking classic catches on the shore if you were playing on the beach.’’

Cricket lives with the eternal dream of making major inroads into the massive American market where baseball rules. There is a feeling the Bluey episode could help the sport crack the elusive United States code and Brumm agrees.

“Yes because sport is sport. The bat may be a different shape (to a baseball bat) but what it requires of the human holding it is universal – concentration, fearlessness fairness and teamwork.’’

Originally published as Bluey batter Rusty was modelled on Australia’s quirky batting great Steve Smith