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Clues by Nutmeg and Grid by Jolt
Theme: First One Day International (ODI) test cricket match (5 Jan 1971)
The winner of the January puzzle was Robert Campbell of West Yorkshire.
Not much by way of instruction. We are simply told that we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of an impromptu first instance of an innovative new format.
For the 2021 calendar Puck, our crossword editor, extended the use of 'Easter Eggs' as a general requirement for most, if not all, of this year’s 3D crosswords. They are called Easter Eggs because they’re hidden surprises to be discovered or worked out during the solve. In this instance, for January, they are very straightforward. Solvers are to submit with their entry two thematic items: one is highlighted in yellow in the middle tier, while an anagram of the other can be found in the blue cells.
For a cruciverbalist cricket fan, what can make a better start to the year than the national test side winning two tests abroad in January, coupled with a cricket themed January 3D crossword? We try to give a gentle introduction in our January crossword and this puzzle was no exception. With lots of cricket themed entries emerging very early in the solve, together with the photograph of an elegant cover drive, the theme was immediately evident. All of this year’s background photographs have a thematic link, all trickier than this one, so it's worth a little effort to identify the link.
The picture clue also frequently features at least one reference to the theme, often quite tricky to deduce. Not so on this occasion. It is clearly a CRUMPET with its RUMP missing, to be replaced by a name. A quick glance at the clue and, equally clearly, the picture was of someone named RICK (Rick Astley it transpired) to give us CRICKET. Frank Paul has eased off on the difficulty level of the picture clues for 2021, so do give them a try this year.
The yellow shaded cells gave ODI and the anagram of the blue cells gave MELBOURNE. So we’re celebrating the birth of one day international cricket. In January 1971 three days of solid rain had washed out the traditional Boxing Day test between Australia and England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. An impromptu 40 overs a side match between the two sides was hastily arranged. And so international One Day cricket was born.
Fittingly Jolt, our Australian IT team member, designed the grid. Thanks to her and the always thoughtful and clever Nutmeg. Like some of you, my favourite clue was Day 13 "Number three bats" (5) for ETHER, with the equally succinct Day 9 "Six-footer’s game" (7) for CRICKET a close second. Both, with thanks to MS in the comments, elegantly minimalist and thematically a perfect fit.
Finally, I and the team would like to give a warm welcome to all the new contributors to the solvers' comments page on the website.
Grid solution
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