Comments on: Inquisitor 112 Bottoms Up by Loda

By: George Hill

George Hill — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 17:42:29 +0000

Just looked up the list of greatest six-hitters (in test matches, not one-day) and all of them appear in the top 50. Gilchrist is at the top with 100.

By: George Hill

George Hill — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 10:53:47 +0000

I think HolyGhost has it. I’d forgotten about the six sixes by Sobers.

By: Chunter

Chunter — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 10:28:46 +0000

Each of the cricketers is an all-rounder (batsman/bowler or (in the case of Gilchrist) batsman/wicketkeeper), but without seeing the puzzle I can’t say whether that is relevant.Perhaps hitting sixes is involved? That is what Afridi is known for, but as a cricketer he’s not in the same class as the others.

By: HolyGhost

HolyGhost — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 10:23:36 +0000

Yes, REINDEER(S) wasn’t good as George Hill says. Also, 32a “IN-OFF” is hyphenated, not 2 words.
My guess for “doubly so” is Sobers, who hit 6 sixes in one over – “Six of the Best”? (I was at the match, in Swansea in the late 60s, but missed the event as I just had nipped to the loo.)

By: George Hill

George Hill — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 07:47:33 +0000

I agree about the weakness of the lists. Six of the best at what? I never did get to the bottom of the “one doubly so” comment either and thought it might be Sobers or Botham as all-rounders. A comment from the setter or anyone with any better ideas would be helpful!
I found the REINDEER situation even more confusing than Colin, as the clue length given was 8 letters, and I suspect a missing bar and (as a result) an asymmetrical grid. Failing that there was at least a mistake in the editing of the clue length. If the answer was meant to be REINDEERS then there is an error in the clue, as I don’t think “flipping grass” can legitimately lead to DEERS.