No 9637, Tuesday, 15 Sep 09, M.Manna

Today's CW appears to be written by Mr Manna's understudy!!!
ACROSS
1 - An exciting batsman without finesse (7) - SLOGGER [CD]
5 - Irritate an insect that is very brave! (7) - {GALL}{ANT}
9 - Lover boy (5) - ROMEO [E]
10 - The odd person gets a letter (9) - CHARACTER [DD]
11 - Section reserved for a review (6) - NOTICE* Where's the S
12 - Then in Asia, some may be lacking in strength (8) - ASTHENIA*
14 - Legally permitted (5) - LICIT [E]
15 - Opening election, party to make a speech carefully worked out (9) - {E}{LAB}{ORATE}
18 - Shoot off to unload (9) - DISCHARGE [DD]
20 - The New Testament follows the first lady to find an incident (5) - {EVE}{NT}
22 - Blinded to reality by imaginary dirt (8) - {STAR}{DUST}
24 - You may need to widen a search for her (6) - EDWINA*
26 - Careless possibilities of a pop record (3,2,4) - HIT OR MISS [CD] ?
27 - Get together in company (5) - AMONG [E]
28 - Impede taking advantage of an agreement (7) - {BAR}{GAIN}
29 - Returned to use to make useful again (7) - RETREAD Anno pending
DOWN
1 - Eccentric about 50 many obstructed (9) - STRANG{L}E{D}
2 - Measure of gradual absorption of liquids (7) - OSMOTIC [E] Can we use the word measure here?
3 - Highly desirable groom can be relied on to hold a ball (4,5) - GOOD CATCH
4 - A class has a fixed course for a run (4) - RACE [DD]
5 - Smoother mirror on the Mirror? (5,5) - GLASS PAPER Anno pending
6 - Allow liquid to percolate over fallow land at church (5) - {LEA}{CH}
7 - The girl to number sodium with a feeler (7) - {AN}{TEN}{NA} Girl AN ?
8 - Right to rate earth the Italian way (5) - TER{R}A*
13 - A slump causes real unhappiness (10) - DEPRESSION [DD]
16 - Finished sketch gains credit (9) - {OVER}{DRAFT}
17 - Set garden in order despite being disaffected (9) - ESTRANGED*
19 - Disperse this sort of brain (7) - SCATTER [DD]
21 - Does pie alter soap part? (7) - EPISODE*
22 - Indian way to address person of rank (5) - SAHIB [E]
23 - Radio tuned properly may reveal her whereabouts (5) - DORIA Hearing this name first time
25 - Ruler of drunken tars? (4) - TSAR*

GRID

No 9636, Monday, 14 Sep 09, M.Manna

I am stumped by 27A.

ACROSS
1 - Gift you go and leave behind you (6) - LEGACY [E]
4 - Build in a close area of rocky strata (8) - {I}SOCLINE*
10 - Seaman offers fortune to wife (7) - {MATE}{LOT}
11 - Embittered to have led last row of soldiers (7) - {RANK}{LED}
12 - An enchanting creature will appear by one (4) - {PER}{I}
13 - Show you were itching to see? (4,6) - FLEA CIRCUS [CD]
16 - Start around university to find him (6) - ST{U}ART
17 - Gets back to make profits again (7) - {RE}{GAINS}
20 - Fellow takes right note about a period of history (7) - {CHAP}{TE}{R}
21 - Caught stir development, allowing no laxity (6) - STRI*{CT}
24 - Systematic though brief in examination (10) - ME{THO}DICAL
25 - Same form of flat topped hill found with steep sides (4) - MESA* Remember Phantom comics?
27 - Eager craving for proper model shirt (7) - A?A?R?T (Addendum - {A}THIRS*{T} Thanks to Pammechu from the HUB at Mayyam)
29 - Catching up on a two gin cocktail (7) - G{A}INING*
30 - Mean somehow to be within call when one’s calling again (8) - R{ENAM*}ING
31 - Figure the shooting range presents a risk (6) - {D}ANGER*
DOWN
1 - A column of light (8) - LAMPPOST [E]
2 - How those circus dogs doing the hoop trick must suffer! (2,7,2) - GO THROUGH IT [CD]
3 - As a King, he was a merry old soul (4) - COLE [E]
5 - Banner headline (8) - SCREAMER [E]
6 - Intimate what might be done, in fact (10) - CONFIDANTE*
7 - Unfortunate to be sick (3) - ILL [DD]
8 - Most advanced in age in the family (6) - ELDEST [E]
9 - Out of condition that can be least said (5) - STALE*
14 - In view of Wagner’s work being led by study team (11) - {CON}{SIDE}{RING}
15 - A coded message (10) - CRYPTOGRAM [E]
18 - Arranged to sit now with the French, at the first Idaho capital (8) - {LE}WISTON*
19 - More rum? No pal (8) - STRANGER [DD]
22 - Couple on motorway appear to weaken (6) - {IM<-}{PAIR}
23 - Burrowing animal loses its tail but retains distinguishing emblem (5) - BADGE(-r)
26 - It’s an art to get her name (4) - TINA*
28 - A faint-hearted person (3) - AIN [T] (Corrrection - HEN - Thanks to Pammechu again)

GRID