Can a cricket team fade out? (5)
I believe the answer is:
dixie
'can a cricket' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'team fade out?' is the wordplay.
'team' becomes 'XI' (a football team, from Roman numerals for 11).
'fade' becomes 'die' (fade can mean to die away).
'out?' indicates putting letters inside.
'xi' placed within 'die' is 'DIXIE'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for dixie that I've seen before include "Large pot used by soldiers" , "American League?" , "Seceding states" , "Southern states that seceded from the USA in 1861" , "Camp-kettle" .)