On A Losing Wicket Meaning

(idiomatic) in a no-win situation.

Example: 1995, William Conrad Gibbons, The US government and the Vietnam war, V.4, page 292
  Recognize that we are on a losing wicket in Vietnam.
2007 September 3, Helen Pidd, “Pitt happy, but Ridley Scott grumbles”[1], The Guardian:
  I'm sure we're on a losing wicket but we're fighting technology.
2008 June 14, Vicki Woods, “They say milestones, but mean tombstones”[2], The Daily Telegraph:
  Our part-time Defence Secretary is also on a losing wicket over grim milestones.