Troops find cricketer, thanks to animal (9)
I believe the answer is:
battalion
'troops' is the definition.
(I have seen 'many troops' mean 'battalion' so perhaps 'troops' could also mean 'battalion')
'cricketer thanks to animal' is the wordplay.
'cricketer' becomes 'bat' (batsman).
'thanks' becomes 'ta' (UK informal version of 'thank you').
'to animal' becomes 'lion' (I've seen this before).
'bat'+'ta'+'lion'='BATTALION'
'find' is the link.
(Other definitions for battalion that I've seen before include "Army formation" , "group of companies" , "army group" , "Large body of troops" , "many troops" .)