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Slip, perhaps, if climbing tree (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

fielder

'slip' is the definition.
(cricket term)

'if climbing tree' is the wordplay.
'climbing' says the letters should be written backwards (in a down clue, letters climb up).
'tree' becomes 'elder' (elder is a kind of tree).
'if' in reverse letter order is 'fi'.
'fi'+'elder'='FIELDER'

'perhaps' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for fielder that I've seen before include "Slip or cover, maybe" , "One as cover, slip" , "one in gully, perhaps" , "Cricketing slip, say?" , "cover, perhaps" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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