E-book readers kill book cricket (Satire)

MUMBAI.

Exponents of ‘book cricket’ are concerned about the future of the game.

The advent of e-books and e-readers threatens to make the game obsolete in schools and colleges all over the country.

“Once e-books and e-readers become prevalent, ‘book cricket’ as a sport will die out.” says Mr. Raddiwallah, an avid book-cricketer.

“Look at what’s happened in California and Japan. Students are accustomed to e-readers that they no longer use traditional hardcover and paperback copies. Book cricket was a way of introducing the sport overseas. But it has died an unnatural death.” added Raddiwallah.

Mr. Technology said that it’s not all that bad. It was always possible to get Indian manufacturers to add a ‘randomize()’ feature to e-readers that will select a page automatically.

Mr. Raddiwallah is not convinced.

“What is the fun in that? It is a sanitised form of the game. Technology will be the death of umpires in book cricket. There will be no need for referees to check if players are cheating.It is worse than traditional cricket; there is no third umpire!” complained Raddiwallah.

Students are not mourning the expected demise of book cricket. They feel that e-books are so much better than carrying a bag-load of text-books and notebooks.

“Besides, we’d rather play cricket on our mobiles, Sony play-stations and computers.”

For some weird reason, students interviewed rarely played the real thing—outdoors or indoors.

(All facts and “quotes” in this story are made up. But you knew that already, didn’t you?)

Quote of the day:
It was a book to kill time for those who like it better dead. – Dame Rose Macaulay