Avoid cricketing failure (4)
I believe the answer is:
duck
This clue is a double definition.
'avoid' is the first definition.
(ducking is a kind of avoiding)
'cricketing failure' is the second definition.
(I've seen this before)
(Other definitions for duck that I've seen before include "Avoid (tricky question)" , "Swimming bird" , "Bob" , "No runs in cricket" , "sails material" .)