If someone is Batting On A Sticky Wicket then they are faced with a difficult problem that requires great skill or care to bring to a successful resolution. The term comes from the world of cricket, referring to the difficulty a batsman has when playing on a wet wicket. Early cricketers often played on a wet surface and great care and concentration was needed. The West Indian team lost on such a wicket at the Oval in 1935 and it was later reported that they “have a remarkable record here having only lost once in 1935 on a sticky pitch”.