Avoid utter failure at the crease (4)
I believe the answer is:
duck
'avoid' is the definition.
(ducking is a kind of avoiding)
I don't understand the remainder of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for duck that I've seen before include "What represents zero score" , "Cringe maybe" , "Waterbird" , "strong fabric" , "strong cloth" .)