Cryptic crossword clue
Essential bit of info about English team — tip from skipper 11

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 11 letter word DESIDERATUM

I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
D
E
S
I
D
E
R
A
T
U
M

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Essential" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case essential = desideratum.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does DESIDERATUM mean?

DESIDERATUM noun
  1. Something that is wished for, or considered desirable.

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