At Lord's, they provide cover for the lower members (4)
I believe the answer is:
'the lower members' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are plural nouns, I cannot see how one could define the other.
'at lord's they provide cover' is the wordplay.
'at' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'lord's they' becomes 'ads' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'cover' suggests taking the first letters (in a down clue, the letter covering the word).
The first letter of 'provide' is 'p'.
'ads' put after 'p' is 'PADS'.
'for' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for pads that I've seen before include "flats?" , "19 acrosses" , "Treads" , "Quarters" , "tablets" .)