Crossword Genius

Awkward study with a run bagged in Test (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

contrary

'awkward' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'study with a run bagged in test' is the wordplay.
'study' becomes 'con' (conning is a kind of studying).
'with' is an insertion indicator.
'run' becomes 'r' (cricket abbreviation).
'bagged in' indicates putting letters inside.
'test' becomes 'try' (synonyms).
'r' going inside 'try' is 'trry'.
'a' going within 'trry' is 'trary'.
'con'+'trary'='CONTRARY'

(Other definitions for contrary that I've seen before include "Quite like Mary" , "Opposed or perverse" , "Opposite in meaning" , "Exact opposition" , "At variance; awkward" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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