Sluggishness, batting: time to win it back? (7)
I believe the answer is:
inertia
'sluggishness' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'batting time to win it back?' is the wordplay.
'batting' becomes 'in' (cricket term).
'time' becomes 'era' (an era is a period of time).
'to win' is an insertion indicator (some letters win or obtain others).
'back?' shows that the letters should be reversed in order (I've seen 'backed' mean this).
'it' backwards is 'ti'.
'era' placed around 'ti' is 'ertia'.
'in'+'ertia'='INERTIA'
(Other definitions for inertia that I've seen before include "Lethargy" , "Tendency not to act" , "Resistance to change" , "I tear in (anag.)" , "Disinclination to act" .)