Why Aussie stars like Ian Healy are holding back tears & heaping praise on Bluey’s
Why Australian stars like Ian Healy are heaping praise on Bluey’s cricket episode – and even choking back tears – after it out-rated the Aussies winning the World Test Championship
- Bluey episode dubbed ‘cricket’ has stolen the hearts of many fans
- Shows character Rusty’s rise from backyard cricket to stardom
- Test great Ian Healy felt it was a throwback to simpler times
- Commentators Andy Maher & Trent Copeland also impressed
A number of Aussie cricket identities – including decorated wicketkeeper Ian Healy – can’t get enough of the animated series Bluey after the popular kids show paid homage to the sport in a recent episode.
The episode in question was a ratings hit – it had more viewers than Pat Cummins’ team winning the World Test Championship against India on Sunday night.
Healy, who played 119 Tests for Australia, felt the show produced in Brisbane is a throwback to simpler times.
‘We think we are busier than we have ever been, backyards are smaller than they were and just going to the park now there can be security issues,’ he told News Corp.
‘At a time when the game is trying to get cricket in more schools it’s good to see this episode come out. I love Bluey – just the simple, strong messages. You sit down to watch one episode and end up watching three or four.’
A number of Aussie cricket stars – including decorated wicketkeeper Ian Healy (pictured) – can’t get enough of the animated series Bluey after the popular kids show paid homage to the sport
The seven-minute episode showed Rusty’s sporting journey from the backyard to Test cricket
The Bluey episode (563,000) had more views than Australia’s World Test Championship win over India (524,000) on Sunday night
Former opening batsman Ed Cowan reportedly choked back tears while watching the episode, with ex-Aussie paceman turned media personality Trent Copeland tweeting ‘how good’ after kicking back and enjoying the show.
Commentator Andy Maher felt the series three episode was a ‘thing of beauty’, with The Grade Cricketer co-host Sam Perry declaring the detail was ‘perfect’ from start to finish.
In the Bluey episode simply titled ‘Cricket’, viewers meet Rusty, whose passion for cricket may rival Steve Smith.
He is seen playing the sport at every spare moment, be it with his brothers in the backyard, with other mates in the park and even by himself, knocking a tennis ball against the wall and trying to knock over a single stump.
If that wasn’t dedicated enough, the cricket tragic also sleeps with a cricket bat by his bed.
Rusty’s talent – which begins in the backyard, as it has for so many stars of the game – eventually pays off, with one of the final scenes showing the batsman walk out onto Brisbane’s famous Gabba ground to represent Australia.
And given the Bluey episode (563,000 views) had more eyes on the screen than the win over India (524,000) at the Oval, cricket may yet explode in the US, where the show is a huge hit.