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 don't understand how one could define the other.
'at lord's they provide cover' is the wordplay.
'at' says to put letters next to each other.
'lord's they' becomes 'ads' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure 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" .)