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Hero, number one cricketer coming in for a drink (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

libation

'a drink' is the definition.
(libation is a kind of drink)

'hero number one cricketer coming in' is the wordplay.
'hero' becomes 'lion' (**).
'number one' becomes 'i' (Roman numeral).
'cricketer' becomes 'bat' (I've seen this before).
'coming in' indicates putting letters inside.
'i'+'bat'='ibat'
'lion' placed around 'ibat' is 'LIBATION'.

'for' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for libation that I've seen before include "Drink poured out as offering to God" , "offering of wine" , "Drink poured as offering to the gods" , "Liquid offering" , "A serving of an alcoholic beverage" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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