State has a long time to produce standard figures (8)
I believe the answer is:
averages
'standard figures' is the definition.
(type of statistical figure)
'state has a long time' is the wordplay.
'state' becomes 'aver' (both can mean to declare).
'has' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'a long time' becomes 'ages' (ages can mean a very long time).
'aver'+'ages'='AVERAGES'
'to produce' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for averages that I've seen before include "Statistical norms" , "Means" , "estimations of mean" , "that are of great concern to cricketers" , "Data included in cricket statistics" .)