Regard first at the crease as a big surprise? (3-6)
I believe the answer is:
eye-opener
'a big surprise?' is the definition.
(something eye-opening is very surprising)
'regard first at the crease' is the wordplay.
'regard' becomes 'eye' (I've seen this in another clue).
'first at the crease' becomes 'opener' (cricket).
'eye'+'opener'='EYE-OPENER'
'as' is the link.
(Other definitions for eye-opener that I've seen before include "Circumstances that brings surprise and enlightenment" , "Fact that surprises or enlightens in optical way" , "Fact that brings great surprise, dilating optics" , "Surprising fact - like wake up call" , "Fact that brings great surprise - wakes you up" .)