Malty hop puzzled expert crossing fields (8)

I believe the answer is:

polymath

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'malty hop puzzled expert crossing fields' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.

'malty hop puzzled' is the wordplay.
'puzzled' indicates an anagram.
'malty'+'hop'='maltyhop'
'maltyhop' is an anagram of 'POLYMATH'.

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(Other definitions for polymath that I've seen before include "One learned" , "Widely-informed person" , "Crossword" , "Person of wide learning" , "Very learned person" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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