Players in cocaine blunder before Queen's (10)

I believe the answer is:

cricketers

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'players' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'cocaine blunder before queen's' is the wordplay.
'cocaine blunder' becomes 'cricket' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'before' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'queen's' becomes 'ers' (abbreviation for Elizabeth Regina).
'cricket'+'ers'='CRICKETERS'

'in' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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