At first, total beginner worked with a top, top cricketer? (7,6)

I believe the answer is:

opening batter

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'top cricketer?' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I can't tell whether this works.

'at first total beginner worked with a top' is the wordplay.
'at first' says to take the initial letters.
'worked with' indicates an anagram.
The initial letter of 'total' is 't'.
't'+'beginner'='tbeginner'
'a'+'top'='atop'
'tbeginner' mixed up with 'atop' can make 'OPENING BATTER'.

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I've seen this clue in The Times.

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