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Sides playing cricket occasionally (2,3,3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

on and off

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

'occasionally' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'sides playing cricket' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'playing' could be 'on' (on can mean playing or performing) and 'on' is found within the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for on and off that I've seen before include "Occasionally" , "spasmodic" , "From time to time, not continuously" , "the two sides at Old Trafford?" , "Intermittently" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sunday Times and The Times.
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