Crossword Genius

Sloppy fielders keep dropping Lancashire's opener (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

slipshod

'sloppy' is the definition.
(I know that sloppy can be written as slipshod)

'fielders keep dropping lancashire's opener' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'fielders' could be 'slips' (cricket term) and 'slips' is present in the answer.
The remaining letters 'hod' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

(Other definitions for slipshod that I've seen before include "Sloppy and haphazard" , "Disorganised" , "Haphazard, slapdash" , "Loose" , "Careless in thought or organisation" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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