Crossword Genius

One absent from work, maybe playing cricket (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

striker

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'one absent' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'work maybe playing cricket' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'work' could be 'strike' (striking is a kind of working) and 'strike' is found in the answer.
A single letter 'r' remains which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

'from' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for striker that I've seen before include "he's still batting" , "Footballer; one withdrawing labour" , "Attacking player" , "One expected to score in football" , "Batsman facing the bowling" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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