Vulnerable writer after extra opportunities, initially (4,4)
I believe the answer is:
wide-open
'vulnerable' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'writer after extra opportunities initially' is the wordplay.
'writer' becomes 'pen' (something which writes).
'after' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'extra' becomes 'wide' (cricket term).
'opportunities initially' becomes 'o' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'wide'+'o'='wideo'
'pen' after 'wideo' is 'WIDE-OPEN'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for wide-open that I've seen before include "Vulnerable to attack (colloq.)" , "Gaping -- very vulnerable" , "Exposed to attack" .)