Spec2589

[lashley]

what are the shaded squares meant to indicate?also is the title oddly stumps out,as it's been chopped off on my copy

[klazomaniac]

https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/2589-oddly-stumps-out/

[novalis]

They are an anagram of the full version of 'oddly stumps out'. Remove the odd letters from stumps.

[lashley]

thanks-i may be back

[novalis]

I'm sure you won't be stumped by it and will smash it for six.

[Tilly2]

Have you completed it then, Novalis?

[novalis]

Yes Tilly. I'm sports mad (some people would say just 'mad') so things fell into place quite early on for me once I'd deciphered the title. It made a change from my normal travails with the Spectator..

[Tilly2]

Is 37ac Aesop?

[Neveracrossword]

Yes, Tilly2.

[Tilly2]

Thank you NAC. Why?

[Captain2]

Is the clue secret and only known to Speccies? ;0)))

[hankir]

Tilly2:

PO (river) + Sea reversed.

[Captain2]

There must be a Secret Society here. ;))

[Neveracrossword]

Tilly2, I am nowhere near my copy and you didn't provide the clue....

[Tilly2]

...and the clue is...Fabulist finds river and waters ebbing. (5)