One absent from work, maybe playing cricket (7)
I believe the answer is:
striker
'one absent' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'work maybe playing cricket' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'work' could be 'strike' (striking is a kind of working) and 'strike' is found in the answer.
A single letter 'r' remains which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'from' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for striker that I've seen before include "he's still batting" , "Footballer; one withdrawing labour" , "Attacking player" , "One expected to score in football" , "Batsman facing the bowling" .)