Be defensive — the way a single wicket is followed by the rest (9)
I believe the answer is:
stonewall
'rest' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with communicating as well as being verbs in their base form.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I don't see?
'be defensive the way a single wicket is followed' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'the' could be 't' (the is pronounced as a 't' sound in some dialects) and 't' is found in the answer.
'way' could be 'w' (Compass direction - West) and 'w' is present in the answer.
'a' could be 'one' and 'one' is found in the answer.
'single' could be 'a' and 'a' is present in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'by the' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for stonewall that I've seen before include "Use delaying tactics as in cricket" , "Play or obstruct defensively" , "Refuse to co-operate" , "Obstruct or hinder any discussion" , "Delay or block (a proposal's) progress" .)