- the area of ground around a wicket when it is tacky because of recent rain and therefore does not allow the ball to bounce well.
- a situation requiring delicate treatment; an awkward situation: In telling his wife that he has to be away for a month in Cannes, he'll be batting on a sticky wicket.
- a cricket pitch that is rapidly being dried by the sun after rain and is particularly conducive to spin
- a difficult or awkward situation (esp in the phrase on a sticky wicket)
