Google artist bowls a googly

GOOGLE'S RESIDENT illustrator/s come up with some charming efforts to add a daily dose of newsworthiness to the company's logo but today's UK attempt was not his/her/their finest moment.

An attempt to symbolise the Cricket World Cup that opens tomorrow in the West Indies falls well short of greatness. Followers of the game are familiar with the shot called the short-arm jab but arms as short as those belonging to this right-hander are rare indeed. The batsman would also appear to be wearing beige wellies rather than pads and boots.

If we were being really pedantic we could also mention the physical impossibility of the shot being executed. And the absence of stitching from the cricket ball. And the wearing of a bright-red motorcycle helmet rather than usual protective cap.

To top it call, the figure doesn't even make a very convincing first ‘o' in Google.

Let's just hope the England boys do a better job. µ