After a number of deliveries, he collects ball for Oxford defender? (8)
I believe the answer is:
overshoe
'oxford defender?' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how one could define the other.
'after a number of deliveries he collects ball' is the wordplay.
'after' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'a number of deliveries' becomes 'over' (cricket term).
'he' becomes 'she' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'collects' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'ball' becomes 'o' (O looks like a ball).
'she' enclosing 'o' is 'shoe'.
'over'+'shoe' is 'OVERSHOE'.
'for' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for overshoe that I've seen before include "which may be outside Oxford" , "one covering Oxford?" , "Galosh" , "Waterproof footwear" , "Re hooves? (anag)" .)