Insect with wings on earlier, one in test? (9)
I believe the answer is:
cricketer
'earlier one in test?' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't understand how they can define each other.
'insect with wings on' is the wordplay.
'insect' becomes 'cricket' (cricket is a kind of insect).
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'wings on' becomes 'er' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'cricket'+'er'='CRICKETER'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for cricketer that I've seen before include "Sportsman who bats or bowls" , "He may be a bowler or a batsman" , "Paul Stirling or William Porterfield, say" , "one may be out on the field" , "Player of traditional English game" .)