Cricket: Sorry, but the ambulance is already at the bottom of cliff

It's now apparent why the New Zealanders recruited their latest member of the management team from the ambulance service.

The side who succumbed by an innings at the Gabba continued to plumb the depths of despair in the second test against Australia yesterday, and now face the likelihood of another embarrassing loss at the Adelaide Oval.

Out-batted, out-bowled, out-fielded, and out-witted, the New Zealanders will begin the fifth day at 149 for five, a mere 315 short of the winning target of 464 and with their only genuine hope revolving around the weather forecast.

Already back in the changing rooms are Mark Richardson, Mathew Sinclair, Stephen Fleming, Scott Styris and Nathan Astle, leaving the immediate responsibilities with not out batsmen Jacob Oram and Brendon McCullum, and an unenviable task for Daniel Vettori and the balance of the lower order.

The irony is that the latest member of the New Zealand management team, Anthony Clearwater, was recruited directly from the St John's Ambulance service, possibly for his expertise in trauma-management and grief-counselling.

As emergencies go, he should find himself in familiar surroundings today as Australia attempt to finish New Zealand off as quickly as possible, and certainly before the arrival of the storms that are forecast for the region.

Quite why Ricky Ponting opted against enforcing the follow-on was still a shade puzzling yesterday, but he will face a wave of criticism if the New Zealanders can somehow hang on this morning, and are then saved by afternoon rain.

The Australian captain eventually declared his second innings just after lunch at 139 for two, leaving New Zealand the best part of two sessions to bat until stumps, and another huge challenge in front of them today.

As with the first test, their survival bid was rocked from the outset when Sinclair was defeated by Jason Gillespie in the fourth over; Fleming was caught in two minds by Glenn McGrath; and Richardson edged the infatiguable Michael Kasprowicz to slip.

As if that wasn't bad enough, Styris fell to the next ball when he misjudged Shane Warne's leg-spinner and Astle followed after the resumption when he miscued a drive off Darren Lehmann.

Much had been made of New Zealand's decision to adopt a conservative game-plan against the Australians, apparently on the basis that the hosts could become frustrated later in the game, and were vulnerable on the fifth day.

However, the waiting strategy seemed to be counter-productive at Adelaide in particular, where Richardson and Fleming lost their wickets in tentative circumstances and at a time when they seemed to be obsessed with shouldering arms.

Apart from the ambulance man, the other New Zealand Cricket official who could well make an appearance soon is Gilbert Enoka, the sports psychologist who divides his time between the All Blacks and the cricketers, depending on which side is the more stressed.

The man regarded as the saviour of New Zealand's England tour has also made cameo appearances in India and South Africa, but will have to be on top of his game to pull the team out of this particular trough.

New Zealand officials have rejected suggestions Enoka will be dispatched, but reporters continue to monitor the team hotel, watching for a man carrying a week-long supply of anti-depressants, a deep-buttoned leather couch and the very latest in hypnosis equipment.

There was also talk of Enoka having a priority list, in which case it would be no surprise to see Craig McMillan outside his door, followed closely by James Franklin, Richardson, Styris, Ian Butler and Hamish Marshall.