What is meant by the cricketing term “sticky wicket”?
A) A cricket pitch on which the ball bounces unpredictably ü B) A field where long grass makes run-scoring difficult C) A game in which conditions favor the batsmen over the bowlers D) A severe breach of normal cricket etiquette
The word “wicket” refers specifically to the target of three stumps (upright sticks) at either end of the 22-yard cricket pitch, which the batsmen attempt to defend and the bowlers attempt to knock over. Often, though, “wicket” is applied by extension to the pitch itself, and cricket commentators partake in much knowledgeable talk about the evolving state of the wicket throughout the course of each match. Because bowlers generally aim the ball such that it bounces on the pitch before reaching the batsman, such attributes of the surface as flatness, hardness, moisture and wear can dramatically affect the challenge of batting. If the sun comes out after the pitch has been made wet by rain, a period of highly unpredictable bounce can occur as the ground gradually dries. This condition, nightmarish for batsmen, is the infamous “sticky wicket”. In modern cricket, covers are brought out to protect the pitch when play is stopped by rain, so classic sticky wickets are no longer seen at the international level.
