No 14646, Saturday 22 November 2025, Crescent

 ACROSS
8 Adult pigs consuming nuts lying around water (5,4) ADAM'S WINE  {A}{MAD<=}{SWINE}
9 Japanese box, endless quarrel behind all the rage (4) INRO {ROw}<=>{IN}

10 Novel after old mill hands experience difficulties (4,2,4,5) FALL ON HARD TIMES {AFTER O MILL HANDS}*
12 Transport reflecting luxury, transport delivering queen (9) EXULTANCE {LUXE<}{TrANCE}
13 China dogging north eastern state (5) NEPAL {PAL}<=>{N}{E}

14 Silly jerk follows cricket match involving one over (7) IDIOTIC {TIC}<=>{O{I}DI<}
17 Melancholy echo left one in prison taken aback (7) ELEGIAC {E}{L}{CA{I}GE<}
19 Set of characters in Balkan jihadi (5) KANJI [T]

21 Symbol of negativity in America on money lapse limiting Government (5,4) MINUS SIGN {IN}{US}<=>{M} {SI{G}N}
24 Nothing too big we fancy for now (2,2,5,2,4) TO BE GOING ON WITH*
25 Hit hard if one's lost faith (4) SLAM {iSLAM}
26 Balding wicket, ultimately hard batting when facing leg spinner (4,2,3)) THIN ON TOP {wickeT}{H}{IN}{ON}{TOP}

DOWN
1 Irregular track if felt pens finally smudge drawing paper? (6,6) RAFFLE TICKET {TRACK IF FELT}* around {smudgE}

2 International Muslim leader retires to eat ordinary cheese (8) HALLOUMI {{I}{MU{O}LLAH}}<

3 Companion caught in topless haunt (6) ESCORT {rES{C}ORT}
4 Victory laps appeal to hearts inwardly (6) WITHIN {W{IT}{H}IN}
5 Rolling at any point by controlling independent suspension (8) REPRIEVE {EVER PER}< over I
6 First ball nails length (8) DISTANCE {D{IST}ANCE}
7 Cleaner operation supporting planet leaving a mark (3,3) MRS MOP {OP}<=>{MaRS}{M}

11 Designed to a T, such integrated circuits oddly lack sophistication in a way (7,5) SILICON CHIPS

{SILICON CHIPS+TO A T}*={LaCk SOPHISTICATION}[CA]
15 Slender leg topped by hickey (8) THINGAMY {THIN}{GAM}{bY}
16 Inherit money, Tax Officer takes half of same (4,4) COME INTO  {CO{saME}IN}{TO}
18 Fool admitted to team had to open (8) INITIATE {I{NIT}I}{ATE}
20 Pick the Spanish books in trips (6) NIBBLE {{EL}{B}{B}{IN}}<
22 Gill's head? (6) NOGGIN [DD]
23 Instrument to detect bleep, say on the radio (6) SENSOR {~CENSOR}

Reference List

Adults=A, Old=O, Luxury=Luxe, China=pal (from the cockney rhyming slang, China plate=mate), North Eastern=NE, One=I, Echo=E, Left=L, America=US, Money=M, Government=G, Hard=H, batting=In, Leg=On, International=I, Ordinary=O, Caught=C, Hearts=H, First=Ist, Operation=Op, Mark=M, Tax Officer=TO, Side=Eleven=11=II, The Spanish=El, Book=B.