Lay into cricketer (6)
I believe the answer is:
batter
This clue is a double definition.
'lay into' is the first definition.
(both can mean to defeat or attack)
'cricketer' is the second definition.
(someone batting)
(Other definitions for batter that I've seen before include "Hit hard and often, subject to repeated violence" , "Beat heavily" , "Clobber" , "Hit hard and often, like cooking mixture" , "sportsman" .)