Study worlds caught in midnight recuperation (12)

I believe the answer is:

convalescing

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'study worlds caught in midnight recuperation' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'study worlds caught in midnight' is the wordplay.
'study' becomes 'con' (con can informally mean to study).
'worlds' becomes 'vales' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'caught' becomes 'c' (cricket abbreviation).
'midnight' becomes 'g' (the middle letter in 'night').
'con'+'vales'+'c'+'in'+'g'='CONVALESCING'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for convalescing that I've seen before include "In recovery" , "Recuperating" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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