Distinguished cricketer or Los Angeles artist (4)

I believe the answer is:

lara

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'distinguished cricketer' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I can't judge whether it can be defined by this definition.

'los angeles artist' is the wordplay.
'los angeles' becomes 'LA' (abbreviation).
'artist' becomes 'RA' (Royal Academician, member of Royal Academy of Arts).
'la'+'ra'='LARA'

'or' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for lara that I've seen is " Dr Zhivago's lover".)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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