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Tough tactic that's seen in test cricket (8)

I've got ?A?D?A?L

Presumably HARDBALL but it doesn't quite seem to fit. Am I missing something?

Just a double definition? A hard ball is used in Test cricket matches and to play hard ball is to use tough tactics, in business say.

Mmmm - I don't think HARDBALL is a term used in cricket. Baseball, maybe?

ChrisE, I was being literal, factual - isn't a cricket ball hard? (PS I've never seen, touched or held one!)

Cricket indeed uses a hard ball - not a base one.
'Tough tactic' = (playing) hardball is a phrase new to me, so I think I'll go for HARDBALL (not handrail or landfall) and in any case, I'll let you both know when the result is published.
I'm dismayed that Malone doesn't play cricket, but her cruciverbalist skills are astonishing.
Many thanks to both of you


I'm not a robot but where would I click if I were one?

Crossray, thanks for the compliment.
The 'tough tactics' meaning of hardball was known to me and it seemed quite logical to think a hard ball was used in cricket. ChrisE's comment alarmed me a little as I felt I might be revealing my ignorance re the sport!

Hey Oldies- I’ve finished this grid but for the life of me I cannot parse 7ac “this pen maybe my power” (4) I have c?o? - I suspect coop ( being a chicken pen) but where does the power come in?

Lastly I also have doubts about 8dn “cheers what’s new leaving pub’ (7) and if 7ac is correct, that implies ‘ovation’ as the answer - I get ovation being cheers ( approbation or applause) but why leaving pub?

Have I got these two completely wrong? 🙏

8 D Innovation would be new, drop the Inn, leaving pub.... Ovatyion.

COO and MY are both expressions meaning "gosh", then P for power

(INN)OVATION

7 A. Coop, pen, place for animals. Coo, = My, cor etc and P= Power.