Cricket: Black Caps need to go upstairs, not to the third umpire

Adam Gilchrist broke a record and a window in Wellington yesterday. Picture / Mark Mitchell

The time has come for New Zealand to dispense with all this advice from psychologists, technical assistants and the like, and to send for the one professional who might be able to help them: a priest.

England chose this strategy in the late-1990s, whistling up the Rev Andrew Wingfield-Digby for spiritual guidance, and to help explain to the players that there would one day be another life, overflowing with runs, wickets and victories.

The case for New Zealand to follow suit grew appreciably yesterday after Australia took a stranglehold on the Basin Reserve test, first through the sublime batting of Damien Martyn and Adam Gilchrist, and then through the bowling of Glenn McGrath and Michael Kasprowicz.

Already 1-nil down in the series, New Zealand went to stumps last night at 122 for four, still 458 runs shy of Australia's massive 570 for eight declared, and 299 short of the follow-on mark.

At best, they are faced with a grim day-long struggle to keep the Australians at bay; at worst they could be ready to receive their last rites this evening, and especially if the pitch begins to provide assistance for leg-spinner Shane Warne.

But the portents were certainly not good after New Zealand made another pig's ear of their batting effort, losing Stephen Fleming to the first ball he faced, Hamish Marshall and Craig Cumming to attempted hook-shots, and Nathan Astle to an ambitious drive.

By the time the allotted overs were bowled last night New Zealand were hanging on by their fingernails, with Lou Vincent unbeaten on 38 and nightwatchman James Franklin on six not out, and with only one recognised batsman - Craig McMillan - up their sleeve.

Resuming at 337 for five yesterday morning, Gilchrist and Martyn snuffed out any chance of a New Zealand comeback, extending their partnership to 256 before Martyn fell - an Australian sixth-wicket record against New Zealand, and also for the Basin Reserve.

Martyn was eventually caught behind for 165, his highest test score, his 12th test century, and the seventh time he had raised three figures in the past 12 1/2 months, in the process boosting his tally over the period to 1570 runs.

Gilchrist made an even bigger impact, his 162 coming from just 146 balls.

It propelled him into the record books as the highest-scoring Australian wicket-keeper in history, his total of 4392 runs pipping Ian Healy's mark of 4356.

To make his effort even more noteworthy, Gilchrist was caught short yesterday morning after match officials brought forward the start time, leaving the Aussie gloveman swimming with his son at the hotel pool, blissfully unaware of the impending start.

When flustered Australian officials finally located their missing man the clock was ticking, to the extent that when Gilchrist eventually arrived at the ground there was a mere 15 minutes remaining until the first ball was bowled.

"I was swimming with Harry in the hotel pool, and I can tell you he spat the dummy when I had to get out and rush to the ground," Gilchrist said last night. "I'm just glad we didn't head out to some of the other places we were planning on taking Harry.

"It was certainly a bit more rushed than what we're used to, but it's given a strong case to the guys who have argued for years that warm-ups are a waste of time."

The 33-year-old left-hander said he had not been aware of the proximity of Healy's batting record, and that it was a great honour to overtake a gloveman he regarded as one of the best, as well as being one of the more solid run producers down the order.

Healy played 119 tests for Australia, posting four centuries and 22 50s as well as effecting 395 dismissals, including 29 stumpings.

"I wasn't aware of that," said Gilchrist, when told of the milestone.

"I looked at Ian Healy's batting record as being a major part of his game.

"He was the best keeper I've ever seen, and I think it was complemented by his fantastic contribution with the bat.

"To pass that is quite a thrill."