Cracking shooting jackets South American returned (9)

I believe the answer is:

fissuring

'cracking' is the definition.
(fissuring is a kind of cracking)

'shooting jackets south american returned' is the wordplay.
'shooting' becomes 'firing' (firing is a kind of shooting).
'jackets' indicates putting letters inside.
'south' becomes 's' (abbreviation).
'american' becomes 'US' (abbreviation for United States).
'returned' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'us' reversed gives 'su'.
's'+'su'='ssu'
'firing' enclosing 'ssu' is 'FISSURING'.

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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