Fielder’s attempt covering right and left, say (5,3)
I believe the answer is:
short leg
'fielder's' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'attempt covering right and left say' is the wordplay.
'attempt' becomes 'shot' (shot is a kind of attempt).
'covering' indicates putting letters inside.
'right' becomes 'r' (abbreviation).
'and' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'left say' becomes 'leg' (left leg).
'shot' going around 'r' is 'short'.
'short'+'leg'='SHORT-LEG'
(Other definitions for short leg that I've seen before include "Fielder" , "Fieldsman" , "one who isn't in" .)