sticky wicket

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

stick′y wick′et, 

1. Sport [Cricket.] 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.
2. British Terms [Chiefly Brit.] 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.
• 1925–30

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

sticky wicket noun

1. a cricket pitch that is rapidly being dried by the sun after rain and is particularly conducive to spin
2. a difficult or awkward situation (esp in the phrase on a sticky wicket)