Sports

Google's doodle hints at a batting duel in Pakistan, Australia quarter-final

The doodle is in the colour of flags of Pakistan and Australia

Web Desk March 19, 2015

It seems Pakistani and Australian cricket fans are not the only one excited about Pakistan vs Australia quarter final on Friday. Just hours before the match, search engine giant Google revealed a doodle for the match.

The doodle, in the colours of Australian and Pakistani flags, shows six batsmen playing shots.

Clicking on the doodle directs you to a Google search page for all things related to Pakistan vs Australia match.

Pakistan vs Australia, World Cup 2015

PHOTO: GOOGLE

The choice made by Google for the doodle is interesting. In depicting six batsmen, perhaps they are pointing towards the pinch hitters on in both teams.

Australia will line up with the likes of Glenn Maxwell, Shane Watson and Michael Clarke in the side. Maxwell has already showed the damage he can do by scoring the second-fastest century in a World Cup match, smashing 102 runs off 51 balls against Sri Lanka earlier in the tournament.

For Pakistan, wicket-keeper batsman Sarfraz Ahmed has been brought back to great effect for the side. He scored an aggressive 49 runs against South Africa before following that up with a century against Ireland, the first by a Pakistani player in the current tournament. Apart from the diminutive wicket-keeper batsman, Pakistan has the likes of Misbahul Haq, Umer Akmal and Shahid Afridi. Each of them is capable of some explosive batting that can change the nature of the game.

But even as the doodle celebrates the batsmen, it cruelly leaves out the real stars of this tournament -- the bowlers. Together, Pakistan and Australia can boast some of the fiercest and fastest bowlers in this tournament.

Australia's Mitchel Starc has picked up 16 wickets in five matches. Only Muhammad Shami has picked up more wickets than Starc, with 17 off seven games. Along with Mitchell Johnson, they make up a formidable attack.

Pakistan may not boast the swagger of the likes of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis anymore, and the towering figure of Muhammad Irfan may be conspicuous in its absence, but pacers such as Wahab Riaz, Rahat Ali and Sohail Khan have already proven their quality when they bowled out strong South African outfit. Riaz has been on top form, taking 14 wickets in the tournament and also bowling the fastest delivery of the tournament so far.

Earlier, Google had fashioned a doodle for the Pakistan vs India match on February 15, in the flag colours of both countries. That doodle, however, did more justice to the bowlers and batsmen.

Pakistan vs India, World Cup 2015

PHOTO: GOOGLE

While before the start of world cup, on February 13 Google revealed a colourful doodle image featuring an umpire raising his finger, two batsmen, a fielder and a wicket-keeper.