Crossword Genius

The batsman immediately facing attack (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

striker

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'the batsman' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'immediately facing attack' is the wordplay.
'immediately' becomes 'r' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'facing' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'attack' becomes 'strike' (striking is a kind of attacking).
'r' put after 'strike' is 'STRIKER'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for striker that I've seen before include "Football attacker" , "One not working" , "Batsman; centre-forward" , "Football player" , "One refusing to work - rings the bell" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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