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I still haven’t worked out what’s going on with Ashley and Charlie by the time I get to the oval, but I forget all about it when I spot Ravi standing by the media truck, winding up an extension cord. He grins when he sees me and dumps the cord onto a pile.
I drop my bag onto the ground and give him a hug. “How’s your job going?”
“Amazing,” Ravi gushes.
I follow him around the corner where he picks up another cord and starts winding it up.
“They’re letting me shadow one of the cameramen this morning,” he says.
“That’s awesome,” I reply.
“What are you doing down here so early?” Ravi asks. “Give me a hand?” He nods to the pile of extension cords and I pick some up and follow him to the door of the truck.
“I want to get some time in the nets by myself before our warm-up,” I reply.
“Nervous about playing Paris?” Ravi asks.
“No,” I reply, but that’s not really the truth. I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night, thinking about having to face up against Paris this morning. We’ve also got our first night game against Charlie’s team tonight, but I’m not worried about that one.
“You should be,” Ravi says, and by the smile on his face, I can tell he’s trying to make me laugh.
I shove him and he just grins at me.
“She’s done a number on a lot of batters,” Ravi says. “My boss has got a whole package of her wickets so far. Should be up on the tournament website this morning.”
“Really?” I ask.
“Yep. We also did a big hits one as well, and a couple of yours made the cut.” He opens the door of the truck and disappears inside. He reappears and holds out his hands. I hand him the extension cords. “Another innings like the last two and you’ll have your own package of big hits. Everyone’s buzzing about you.”
“Are they?”
Ravi jumps down from the truck and closes the door. “Of course they are, and you know what they’re excited about?”
I shake my head and Ravi continues. “The game between you and Paris. They’re all hanging out for it.”
I let out a sigh. “That’s the one I’m most worried about.”
“Why?” Ravi asks. “You’re seeing them like beach balls. When you’re on, you’re on, but you know, if you keep playing the same shots, they’ll work you out eventually, especially Paris.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Just that, maybe you should try to be more, you know—”
“— flamboyant? Like you?” I ask.
Ravi laughs. “I was going to say unpredictable, but I’ll take flamboyant.”
“I just have to make sure I don’t do anything stupid, that’s all. Straight shots and hitting hard, that’s what works.”
“If you change your mind, I’m happy to teach you some of my shots.”
“When was the last time you scored off those shots?” I ask.
Ravi narrows his eyes. “My point is, if you do them, you’ll score off them for sure.”
“Whatever you say,” I reply.
“You know I’m right,” he says, grinning.
I shake my head and laugh and follow him to the clubhouse. “Hey, have you heard of the Ladies who Legspin podcast?”
“Yeah,” Ravi says. “I listen to it every week during the season.”
“Really?”
Ravi pulls a face. “Of course. Don’t you?”
“No, but I guess I’m going to have to start listening to them, since I was interviewed by them last night.”
Ravi’s eyes go wide. “Wow, Alice, that’s amazing! How was it? Were they as funny as they seem on air? When’s it on?”
“It was great actually. And it’s on the next episode. I think it goes out tonight?”
Ravi grabs my arm and gives it a shake. “I can’t believe one of my mates is going to be on the Ladies Who Legspin podcast. I have to tell the others. They’re going to flip.”
“Does everyone know about that podcast?”
“Most of them do,” Ravi replies. He glances over my shoulder. “Sorry, Alice. That’s my boss. I have to go. I’ll see you later?”
I nod. “Enjoy your time behind the camera.”
“I will,” Ravi replies. As he jogs off around the field, he calls back, “Good luck today. Can’t wait to hear the podcast.”
I think about what Ravi said about Paris’s wickets being put up on the website and I have an idea. If I watch the video of her wickets instead of the clips of her bowling in general, maybe I might be able to see if she does anything different when she bowls her wicket balls.
Instead of heading to the nets like I planned, I pick up my kit bag and head over into the stands. Cities have just arrived and are walking out across the oval to warm up. Paris spots me. She slows down, keeping her attention on me, a sly smile on her face, until one of her team mates pats her on the shoulder. She turns and jogs away and I wonder if she’s surprised to see me without my team?
While I wait for my team to arrive, I pull my phone from my pocket, bring up the tournament website, and settle in to watch all of the videos of Paris that I can find.