Batting given support on return of Test side (5)
I believe the answer is:
india
'test side' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both locations as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?
'batting given support on return' is the wordplay.
'batting' becomes 'in' (as in batting or being 'in' in cricket).
'given' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'support' becomes 'aid' (to aid is to help or support).
'on return' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'aid' back-to-front is 'dia'.
'in'+'dia'='INDIA'
'of' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for india that I've seen before include "In aid, strangely, of the country" , "One preceding Juliet" , "Country: I (comms.)" , "Type of paper, rubber etc" , "Populous Asian country" .)