Crossword Genius

Academics race in for insulators (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

batts

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'insulators' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I cannot judge whether it can be defined by this definition.

'academics race in' is the wordplay.
'academics' becomes 'bas' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'race' becomes 'tt'.
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'bas' enclosing 'tt' is 'BATTS'.

'for' is the link.

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I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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