Ok folks, here's the truth®. A sticky wicket refers to how much moisture is IN the pitch, not ON the pitch. A true sticky wicket is uncommon these days due to better pitch preparation and tarpaulin etc coverings. It is a very literal description – the ball actually sticks, albeit temporarily, to the wicket when it is being bowled. But only sometimes, which is what makes a sticky wicket such a nightmare to bat on. The ball usually slows down, and bounces less, but occasionally bounces perfectly normally. It turns a lot more (ie moves sideways after bouncing) as it grips the pitch (aka wicket, but trying to avoid confusion) much more. Suits medium pace bowlers, and spinners to a lesser degree. A dry cracked pitch, while giving the same turn, bounces much more and is usually truer and more predictable. Any questions?
