Test cricket perhaps absorbing papa (7)
I believe the answer is:
inspect
'test' is the definition.
(test can mean to check or inspect)
'cricket perhaps absorbing papa' is the wordplay.
'cricket perhaps' becomes 'insect' (cricket is an example).
'absorbing' indicates putting letters inside.
'papa' becomes 'P' (NATO / phonetic alphabet).
'insect' placed around 'p' is 'INSPECT'.
(Other definitions for inspect that I've seen before include "Carefully examine" , "Ecamine closely" , "test" , "Scrutinize, audit" , "Look over carefully" .)