Interesting theme. There were a few I hadn’t heard of. Haven’t parsed 5a, 6d or 22a/29a. The last of these looks convoluted, and I don’t know whether I can be bothered.
Tim, I didn’t look closely at 20a but now that I do, yes, it is a bit misleading. Then again, there’s probably no such thing as misleading in Cryptic Crossword Land.
6D was a process of elimination after I had the rest. Not sure how anyone could get that just from the wordplay. Other than your hint, I still don’t get it. Doesn’t matter. Bottom half was reasonable but I haven’t parsed 12. Typical fun.
Yes DAJ @11:56am that would be fine if there was only one word before openers.
First time I’ve come this close to a DA solve without any assistance! Only missing 8D and 20A and the crossers aren’t getting me there. Think I must be misreading the seemingly simple construction of 20A.
Got 8D too now with your help after a Google. I’d arrived close to that earlier but I haven’t heard of it.
Quite happy with today, relatively few obscurities means this was my quickest solve yet. FOI 19A, 1D, 4D, 19D. Enjoyed the theme, first themed one I got down was 22,29A and the rest fell out reasonably quick after. Got a chuckle out of the unexpected construction of 15D.
DA Trippers 
All done.
FOI 1D
LOI 12a
Liked the theme. A few interesting builds.
Good starters are 1D, 2D/10a, 18a.
enjoy.
First pass 20a,24a,26a,27a,1d,2d. LOI 7d. I thought 14a/17a was good. 20a is a bit dodgy.
20A – In cricket, openers are 1,2 – so clue seems fine to me.
Easy starters 1d, 4d.
Interesting theme. There were a few I hadn’t heard of. Haven’t parsed 5a, 6d or 22a/29a. The last of these looks convoluted, and I don’t know whether I can be bothered.
Tim, I didn’t look closely at 20a but now that I do, yes, it is a bit misleading. Then again, there’s probably no such thing as misleading in Cryptic Crossword Land.
5A – biblical.
6D – as a start, “Half” gives 2,3,4,5.
22A/29A – could be seen that way. Key (as I see) is that “Doctor” gives 9,10.
Hope helps.
6D was a process of elimination after I had the rest.
Not sure how anyone could get that just from the wordplay.
Other than your hint, I still don’t get it. Doesn’t matter.
Bottom half was reasonable but I haven’t parsed 12.
Typical fun.
Yes DAJ @11:56am that would be fine if there was only one word before openers.
Appreciate the point and understood. I just see it a bit different when the “words” are a singular proper noun.
It was my only question mark though, which makes a change!! 🙂
Very enjoyaable. FOI 9D, 13A, 18A, 4D, 1D. Still going – 5A, 7D, and 16D still eluding me, for one.
First time I’ve come this close to a DA solve without any assistance! Only missing 8D and 20A and the crossers aren’t getting me there. Think I must be misreading the seemingly simple construction of 20A.
v_r,
8D – as a start, defn = “Mark part” (think currency).
20A – a bit as Tim C and I were discussing above. Remove 2 letters – trick is to get the correct 2.
Hope gets you to completion.
Ahhh yep, got 20A now, thanks for the tip, I was probably making the same mistake as others but couldn’t grasp it from above comments.
Got 8D too now with your help after a Google. I’d arrived close to that earlier but I haven’t heard of it.
Quite happy with today, relatively few obscurities means this was my quickest solve yet. FOI 19A, 1D, 4D, 19D. Enjoyed the theme, first themed one I got down was 22,29A and the rest fell out reasonably quick after. Got a chuckle out of the unexpected construction of 15D.
thanx Tim C
loved the theme!
Another late start for me today.
1D was a nice starter, took two goes round to get into double figures.
Now have most done but still need 5A (DAJ 11.52 am hint hasn’t helped me!), 12A and 7D – will sleep on it and try again tomorrow.
OK, I think 5A has hit me (doh!). The others are definitely for the morning though.
12A was my LOI, but I finally got it: Game = 4,5. Buff = 1-3. Transpose them to get steps (a dance)
7D is just an anagram of hertz and is, is
Thanks Jack, think I have it now. 🙂
Well that was a lot of fun! Started late yesterday, but the answers, with some coy exceptions, presented themselves very sweetly. LOI 7D.
Flagrant abuse of openers.