Cryptic blip

Out walking today I listened to a podcast by David Astle, who is a word guru and cryptic crossword fiend.
 
I can’t do cryptic crosswords at all but, being a tennis fan, I did like this example David gave of a cryptic clue.
 
Clue: “Schiavone smashes land in the net.” Solution: “Anchovies”.
 
And why the photo of a tree trunk? David talked about the parts of the brain that play a part in solving cryptic clues, including the cerebral cortex. And “cortex” is Latin for bark.
 
Maybe I should take up cryptic crosswords.