On January 14 I was privileged to get a rare peek inside the Southern Starts inner sanctum ahead of the side’s T20 against England at the MCG. It was a fascinating experience. Here’s what happened.

Midday: The girls arrive at the MCG. It’s pouring rain and everyone is unsure as to whether the game will be a reduced-overs match or if play will even get underway.

12:40pm- The umpires inspect the ground. The rain has eased but the outfield is wet, but will dry up considerably, as it does so well, at this ground.

12:55- The girls are set up in the old change rooms in the Great Southern Stand. They open parcels which include their whites for their lone Test match against the Poms which starts next week. The Stars play a Test match every two years. Rene Farrell says the girls enjoy playing the longest and most traditional form of the game and relish the rare opportunity.

1:00- The girls have a hit with the Milo Cricket gear. Farrell lets me run her out. A team mate says she `runs between the wickets like Watson’ ``Oooh sledging’’ is the response from team mates.

1:10- It’s not raining everyone!’’ filters through the room. Jess Cameron pins an Australian flag up in the room. Players who require minor treatment have niggling injuries looked at or get taped.

1:15- Coach Richard McInnes tells the players they are waiting for an update on play but the groundsmen and umpires are optimistic.

1:20- Captain Alex Blackwell comes over for an interview. We sit on one of the massage tables and chat. She speaks really well. She believes the side failed to execute bowling plans in Wednesday’s loss to England and expects an improved all-round performance. Big effort in the field also needed.Team is delighted to be playing at the MCG and are lapping up the historic surrounds.

1:37- Shelley Nitschke has her knee taped. She tells me if the game is reduced to 15 overs, 110 would be a par score.

1:50- Nitschke and Alyssa Healey lairise with the bat - doing a `guess who’ of batsmen. It’s very funny stuff and an entertaining way to bide time during a rain delay.

2:15- The sun comes out and it’s suddenly a glorious summer afternoon at the ‘G. The girls warm up on the ground. They start with run throughs and move on to more specific bowling, batting and fielding drills. The Poms also make their way on to the turf and are put through their paces. After heavy showers in the lead-up, the match is delayed by 40 minutes to allow the outfield to dry out. The game will consist of 16 overs a side with a 10 minute break between innings.

3:00- England win the toss and captain Charlotte Edwards elects to bowl, expecting some early life in the wicket. Nitschke and rising talent Meg Lanning open the batting for the Stars.

3:30- Lanning dismissed for 10 off 16 balls. Bowled Daniele Hazell, caught Jenny Gunn. Australia 1/25, Leah Poulton strides to the crease.

3:49- The Stars reach 1/50 off 51 balls in the 9th over. Lanning does an interview on the big screen. She tells the slowly-building crowd that the wicket is a bit slow, but if the team can push past 100 they should make a good score.

4:00- Australia is 2/65 at the start of the 11th over. Poulton is on 17, after being dropped three times in as many balls, and Blackwell on 5.

4:10- Poulton is caught and bowled by Gunn. Lisa Sthalekar joins Blackwell at the crease, the pair put on a 24-run partnership in less than four overs.

4:15- The Stars finish at 3/99 from their 16 overs. Nitschke top scored with 27 from 30 balls, Poulton and Blackwell both made 21.

4:17- Umpires Geoff Joshua and Tony Ward say the players are to be back on the ground at 4:27. Rachel Haynes gets mic-ed up by Channel 9 so she can speak with the commentators while fielding.

4:22- Retrospective T20 caps are presented to Catherine Fitzpatrick, cap 5, and Clea Smith, cap 18.

4:34- Rene Farrell removes opener Laura Marsh for 5. England 1-18. Suzie Rowe pads up next to where I’m sitting in the players race and says ``100 to win is quite good considering how badly we fielded’

4:48- Sthalekar comes into the attack and with her fourth ball clean bowls Danielle Wyatt for 18. England 2/39. Shortly after Sthalekar picks up her second wicket, caught and bowled the skipper for 16. England 3/47. The Poms go on to bring up their 50 from 49 balls.

5:04 - Sthalekar gets her third wicket for the match. Elyse Perry takes the catch to remove Rowe. England 4/56 requiring 45 runs from 42 balls for victory. Just as England go at 6 an over, the Stars stem the flow with a wicket.

5:15- The Poms move to 4/72, needing 29 off 24 balls. They have six wickets in hand. Sarah Coyte continues from the Southern Stand end of the ground. Haynes then comes into the attack form the Members end.

5:19- 21 runs off 17 balls to win, becomes 14 off 12, 8 from 10, 7 from 9. Farrell bowls the second last over.

5:27 – Elyse Perry to bowl the final over. Greenway and Gunn are at the crease for England which needs three runs for victory. The Poms get two runs from the first ball.

5:30- Perry breathes life into the contest; she strikes with the second ball. Gunn gets an edge to Coyne. Heather Knight strides to the crease with England 5/99. There’s a huge buzz around the ground and in the Stars camp. Third delivery is a dot ball. England needs one run from three balls to win.

5:31- Knight gets the single required. A cheer goes up for England who secure a five-wicket win with two balls remaining.

5:34- The players shake hands and `Bittersweet Symphony’ plays as the Stars walk down the race and into the rooms.

5:47- Quick chat amongst coach and players. The Stars pack up, some shower and then turn their attention to game three on Sunday in Canberra.