XIMENES CROSSWORD No. 113

CRICKETER

1.  W. R. Watson-Smyth (Ashford): Wanted. A Morris 1948 Sports Tourer, left-hand drive, or similar (cryptic def.; ref. Arthur M., l.h. batsman in Australia’s unbeaten 1948 tour).

2.  E. S. Ainley (S. Harrow): Will he have muscle trouble when the net’s turn next comes? (crick + rete (rev.), & lit.).

3.  L. C. Wright (Selby): Needs a new spring to start his chain running (cryptic def.; chain = 22 yds of wicket; cricket season).

H.C.

C. Allen Baker (Wishaw): Hearth companion set with copper finish—1/11 (cricket + (copp)er; ref. Dickens, ‘The Cricket on the Hearth’; one of XI).

D. Ambler (Harrow): Fortnightly publication of over-production figures shows paralysing effect on net returns (crick + rete (rev.); magazine title; overs).

Maj P. S. Baines (W11): What is Crappit-head? Cod’s head with bits of rice, leek, suet, and pepper (c(od), ric(e), (lee)k, (su)et, (pepp)er; see crap² in C.; ref. Jack Crapp, batsman in England’s 1948-9 winter tour).

Mrs N. Fisher (Stroud): Keep your wool on, Chancellor, when caught in a howler, there’s a sportsman (C ket in crier; ref. sterling crisis of Sep 1949).

Mrs L. Jarman (Brough): This player gives you a pain in the neck—a travesty of Tree! (crick + anag.; ref. H. Beerbohm Tree, actor).

A. F. Lerrigo (Pinner): Dismissed on appeal? Not if he’s a reckless driver and gets caught (cryptic def.).

T. W. Melluish (SE24): Fender was mainly on the hearth (2 mngs,; ref. Dickens, ‘The Cricket on the Hearth’, and Percy F., captain of Surrey 1921-31).

A. C. Norfolk (Ely): His Grace had a place in Gloucestershire but not in Debrett! (cryptic def.; ref. Dr W. G. Grace, not titled).

L. C. Payman (Norton-on-Tees): Mainly found in the hearth—perhaps after the ashes (cryptic def.; ref. Dickens, ‘The Cricket on the Hearth’ and The Ashes).

Rev E. B. Peel (Fleetwood): When I go in I go out, and when I come out I come in (cryptic def.).

G. W. Pugh (Ferndown): His view of the “free spectacles” scheme may be that it is little other than a wicked waste (cryptic def.; spectacles = duck in both innings; cf. wicket; ref. National Health glasses).

H. Ingram Rees (Edgware): Regular contributor to “Country Life” and, off and on, to “The Field” (cryptic def.; magazine titles; national game; fielding positions).

COMMENTS.—283 correct, and few mistakes in solution. CRICKETER was not easy to clue, and inspiration evidently tarried: it looked, at first, like being a very small entry, but more contributions arrived by the last possible post than by all the previous ones put together. My idea in setting this word was to invite the “straight” clue for a change: the result was not really a great success, many competitors being evidently put off by the word: for the puzzle was not, I should say, harder than No. 111, which drew a much larger entry. There were not very many really good clues; the winner was an outstanding exception, and the second and third were well ahead of the H.C.s, which vary from the brilliant but doubtfully soluble ingenuity of Major Baines to the neat but not exciting simplicity of Mr. Peel. The short list was nearly even shorter—if it is not churlish to say so when I have just received so many kindly comments. But let me hasten to admit freely that I had a good many easier words than CRICKETER to clue; and I hope the word set in No. 114 will be easier to hit for six.
 
RUNNERS-UP.—M. Anderson, D. Ashcroft, E. J. Bell, H. W. Brister, D. L. L. Clarke, J. M. Doulton, J. F. Dow, S. R. Gibbs, P. G. W. Glare, S. B. Green, J. P. Hancox, Dr G. P. Hartigan, D. Hawson, R. P. Irving, Miss M. Jenkins, J. H. Jones, D. P. M. Michael, A. P. O’Leary, J. D. P. O’Leary, R. C. Payn, E. G. Phillips, R. Postill, Rev H. M. Springbett, Mrs A. L. Stevenson, L. E. Thomas, J. Thompson, L. W. Titman, W. H. Victory, I. H. Wilson, J. S. Young.