da mrbet： A data de retorno de Galoppo para seguir seu tratamento do rompimento do ligamento cruzado do joelho esquerdo no Reffis do São Paulo já tem data para acontecer: semana que vem.
O meia tira os pontos da cirurgia que fez no local na segunda-feira (10). E logo em seguida embarcará de volta a São Paulo (SP).
continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasSão PauloVitória contra o Tigre faz São Paulo atingir marca histórica inéditaSão Paulo07/04/2023Futebol LatinoTécnico do Tigre lamenta segundo tempo da equipe contra o São PauloFutebol Latino07/04/2023São PauloMichel Araujo se consolida como novo ‘coringa’ de Ceni em estreia e deve cavar vaga nos titulares do São PauloSão Paulo07/04/2023
da aviator aposta： +Luan fora da lista do Corinthians: veja 15 jogadores sem espaço nos clubes brasileiros
Galoppo animou a torcida tricolor após postar vídeo em que aparece fazendo embaixadinhas mesmo com os curativos no local da operação visivelmente expostos
A expectativa era de que o argentino voltasse aos campos somente no final deste ano, porém o processo de recuperação acelerado dá otimismo aos médicos são-paulinos de que esse processo possa ser encurtado para quatro a seis meses.
Artilheiro do clube no Campeonato Paulista e um dos melhores jogadores do Tricolor na competição estadual, o meia se contundiu gravemente ainda no primeiro tempo do duelo ante o Água Santa, pelas quartas de final do torneio.
No me pidas que no vuelva a intentar que las cosas vuelvan a su lugar.. 🙏🏻💪🏼🇾🇪 pic.twitter.com/9kCiaBDszi
— Giuliano (@GiulianoGaloppo) April 3, 2023
+ Confia os jogos, classificação e simule resultados do Brasileirão-23 na tabela do LANCE!
+ Confira jogos, classificação e simule resultados da Copa Sul-Americana-23 na tabela do LANCE!
+ Confira jogos, classificação e simule resultados da Copa do Brasil-23 na tabela do LANCE!
“I always win something in my second season”. Those were the words, well there or thereabouts, of Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou earlier this term.
With Spurs sat in 14th place in the Premier League and staring down the barrel of another trophyless campaign, the craggy-faced Australian is clearly walking on thin ice.
While it’s been a horrific season on a domestic level, the Lilywhites are at least enjoying a strong run in Europe. The Europa League remains the sole chance Ange has of winning a major honour this term and it could be decisive in whether he keeps his job.
Daniel Levy has overseen the sacking and hiring of many a manager during his time in north London and will pray that Postecoglou can engineer a turnaround. Stability is what they need heading into next season.
It’s not just been a tricky season for the manager and his coaching staff, but a number of Spurs players have not been up to the task, notably in defence.
Pedro Porro has been the most suspect member of the backline.
Pedro Porro's season in numbers
Considering the front-footed nature of Postecoglou’s style of play, Spurs are always going to concede goals. While they thrilled supporters with their attacking football last season and at the beginning of this term, it has ultimately come at the expense of results.
They have had to deal with a number of injuries, notably at full-back, missing Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie at one stage this season.
Truth be told, any side would miss three quarters of their backline but Porro, as the senior statesmen alongside the likes of Archie Gray and Radu Dragusin, did not cover himself in glory.
There have been some notable mistakes this season, and they largely focus on the Spaniard’s positioning, an area of the game that he hasn’t improved upon since an awful debut game against Leicester.
GK – Fraser Forster
RWB – Pedro Porro
CB – Eric Dier
CB – Ben Davies
CB – Japhet Tanganga
LWB – Ivan Perisic
CM – Rodrigo Bentancur
CM – Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg
CAM – Dejan Kulusveski
CAM – Heung-min Son
CF – Harry Kane
Tim Sherwood was quick to critique him after that game, simply suggesting that “Porro is so bad it’s unbelievable. His positioning is disgusting.”
Since that moment he did improve, noticeably in the final third. In 2023/24, the Spain international scored four times and posted seven assists. He’s contributed seven assists this term too.
However, while he’s capable of magical moments in attacking phases of play, the 25-year-old is consistently caught out at the back.
Games played
28
Goals
2
Assists
5
Big chances created
5
Key passes per game
1.5
Pass success %
76%
Clean sheets
5
Tackles per game
2.1
Interceptions per game
1.1
Dribbled past per game
1
Take Spurs’ defeat to Ipswich at home earlier in the season. Porro was caught out positionally for both goals in that 2-1 loss.
There was that agonising moment against Arsenal, too, where Leandro Trossard’s smart turn on the left flank left the right-back in the dust.
Then there was his concession of the ball in the 2-2 draw with Bournemouth. Caught up the field, Porro gave away possession, which allowed Milos Kerkez to break down the left and cross for Marcus Tavernier to find the net.
It was the latest in a long line of mistakes. So, where can Postecoglou turn to?
How Spurs can solve their Porro conundrum
The most natural solution for Tottenham Hotspur here is to unleash Djed Spence, a player tipped to be included in one of Thomas Tuchel’s England squads after a remarkable revival this season.
Tottenham star Djed Spence
Spence didn’t feature at all for Spurs last year, loaned out to both Leeds United and Genoa in Italy but he has returned with a vengeance and now looks like a major part of the club’s future, appearing in 24 games, scoring twice and registering two assists.
With Porro reportedly attracting interest from elsewhere ahead of the summer, Spence must be able to look forward to a more regular role in the side.
However, that role should be handed to Archie Gray instead, a “future £100m” talent in the eyes of data analyst Ben Mattinson.
Gray signed from Leeds last summer for around £30m and has endured a bit of a baptism of fire in Spurs colours. A midfielder by trade, the vast majority of his outings under Postecoglou have come at centre-back, largely because of their defensive injury crisis.
He did catch the eye, though, with the manager notably hailing his performances out of position: “He doesn’t shy away from it, he doesn’t hide. He just keeps going. We’ll get enormous growth out of him during this period, but right now he’s contributing to us, he’s helping us.”
Despite impressing in the centre of defence, his future certainly looks as though it’ll be slightly further forward in midfield or even in Porro’s right-back position.
Indeed, it was on the right side of defence that the teenager captured the imagination for Leeds last season, missing just two Championship games and appearing at right-back on 30 occasions.
Right-back
37
Central midfield
21
Centre-back
19
Attacking midfield
14
Defensive midfield
9
Left-back
5
Centre-forward
2
Left wing
1
Not only will he give you a more polished defensive performance than Porro at right-back but he can also contribute effectively in the final third. He only picked up two assists last campaign but at the age of just 19, he has plenty of time to develop that side of his game.
One of those assists came in 4-0 win over Swansea in February 2024, with BBC pundit Jon Newsome waxing lyrical over his display at the time: “I think sometimes it is quite easy to forget he is only 17. You look at him now and he’s like this experienced, quality footballer. He’s a kid! But he’s not a kid, he’s a kid in a man’s body with a man’s mentality. He is way wise beyond his years, absolutely superb young man.”
So, while Porro’s future in the north of London doesn’t look too bright, it certainly looks rosy for Mr Gray who looks set to dazzle Premier League audiences for a while yet, regardless of the position he plays in.
Their best signing since Bale & Son: Spurs hit gold with world-class star
Spurs haven’t exactly set the world alight in the transfer market since signing Gareth Bale and Heung-min Son.
A fractured finger has ruled Diana Baig out of the entire ODI leg of Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand, while Nida Dar’s participation in the second and third games of the Women’s Championship series is in doubt after she was hit in the face with the ball while bowling and had to be taken off the field in the first ODI, in Queenstown on Tuesday.Dar, Pakistan’s captain, was bowling the second ball of her seventh over (the 44th of the New Zealand innings), with Sophie Devine on strike, when she was struck in the face. She received medical attention on the field before being taken off.”After assessing Nida’s condition, the team physio has determined that Nida will not take any further part in today’s ODI,” the PCB said in a statement. “The decision on Nida’s participation in the remaining matches of the series will be made in due course.”Omaima Sohail completed the over after Dar went off the field.Sadaf Shamas was approved as Dar’s replacement for the game, and was dismissed for 10 in Pakistan’s reply to New Zealand’s mammoth 365 for 4. Fatima Sana led the team in Dar’s absence.In a separate statement, the PCB confirmed that Baig has suffered “a horizontal fracture” in the right index finger.”While fielding in a practice session, [Baig] suffered an injury to the index finger of her bowling arm,” the statement said. “Immediately after the incident, she was taken to a local hospital for a thorough examination, including an X-ray.”The medical reports have confirmed a horizontal fracture in Diana Baig’s index finger, making her unavailable for the ODI series against the White Ferns. The PCB medical team is closely monitoring her condition, and she will undergo further assessments to determine the extent of the injury and the necessary course of action for her recovery.”Pakistan had earlier won the three-match T20I series 2-1.
Steven Gerrard has backed Florian Wirtz to shine at Anfield and urged Liverpool to complete the transfer quickly.
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Liverpool are relentlessly pursuing WirtzThe player has given his nod to the clubGerrard wants the transfer to be wrapped upFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Wirtz was a driving force behind Bayer Leverkusen's unprecedented success last season. The midfielder contributed 18 goals and 20 assists across all competitions, playing a crucial part in the club's remarkable domestic campaign. The German side claimed their first-ever Bundesliga title, lifted the German Cup and advanced all the way to the Europa League final.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Despite serious interest from Bayern Munich and Manchester City, Wirtz appears inclined toward a move to Liverpool, impressed by Arne Slot's vision and the environment at the reigning Premier League champions. The Dutch manager is understood to have held successful discussions with Wirtz, outlining a clear vision for the player's development within his system, which has further impressed the attacking midfielder.
WHAT GERRARD SAID
Speaking to TNT Sports, Gerrard said: "There are rumours obviously, Florian Wirtz. A big talent who's done fantastic for Xabi Alonso at Leverkusen. He's got a huge future in front of him, so if Liverpool is the place for him, let's hope we can make it happen."
DID YOU KNOW?
While Liverpool are now seen as frontrunners for the midfielder's signature, negotiations with Bayer Leverkusen remain ongoing. Liverpool's initial approach included a base fee of £84 million ($114m) supplemented by £12.6m in performance-based add-ons. When that offer was turned down, the Reds returned with an improved package worth around £109.6m ($149m) – but Leverkusen once again stood firm. Despite the setbacks, Liverpool sporting director Michael Edwards has received approval to commit up to €150m (£127m/$173m) from the club's transfer budget to finalize a deal for Wirtz.
The former USMNT striker has called for MLS teams to pursue the Portuguese star with an ownership stake similar to the arrangement Lionel Messi has
Gomez believes Ronaldo-Messi rivalry would create massive worldwide viewership for MLSSuggests ownership stake as crucial component to entice Portuguese starMLS club would need to make bold declaration of intent to attract five-time Ballon d'Or winnerGet the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowAFPWHAT HAPPENED
ESPN analyst Herculez Gomez made a passionate case for bringing Cristiano Ronaldo to Major League Soccer amidst rumors of him leaving Al Nassr. The Portuguese superstar is reportedly set to leave the Saudi Pro League club and is still looking to keep playing football, which has seen him linked to several outfits across the world. However, Gomez argued that an MLS club should offer Ronaldo an ownership stake similar to what Inter Miami provided to Lionel Messi to bring Ronaldo to the U.S.
“Nobody thought Lionel Messi would come, and yet he did. What did it take? It took ownership and I think it’s going to be a similar package [to recruit Ronaldo to MLS],” Gomez said on . “American owner John Textor (owns Botafogo, Crystal Palace and American Eagle Football Group), they want, as per reports, to offer a similar package for Cristiano Ronaldo to join Botafogo, or one of the teams, ahead of the Club World Cup."
He added, “Do I see someone within Major League Soccer with the ability to do that? Maybe. Should they do that? Absolutely. There is no absolute way you have Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi playing in the same league, and you’re not going to pay attention. Whether you’re a hater of what they have become now, or whether you’re a lover of what they’ve done to the game. Two players who have played at the highest of levels for so long, who have competed against one another."
Gomez believes MLS would gain significant global traction if it could sign Ronaldo.
“Everybody in the world will watch the league, will watch this match-up, and I almost feel like you have to make an intent, you have to try to get Cristiano Ronaldo to the MLS," he said.
AdvertisementWHAT HERCULEZ GOMEZ SAID
Gomez further touched on the fact that the former Real Madrid and Manchester United icon is currently sitting on 936 career goals and with his desire to hit that elusive 1000 figure, he’ll be more willing to join the MLS.
“Because 936 goals that Cristiano is at right now, it’s very well documented that he wants a 1000 goals so he’s not going to go to the La Liga, he’s not going to go to the Serie A and he’s not going to go to the Premier League," he said. "But he’s going to go to a Saudi Pro League or a MLS, one of these leagues because he wants his goals. He wants the 64 goals that are left to hit a 1000, and I think it’s doable."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
The potential acquisition of Ronaldo would represent another milestone in MLS's evolution from retirement league to legitimate global destination.
Getty Images SportWHAT’S NEXT?
While no MLS club has publicly expressed interest in pursuing Ronaldo, his Al-Nassr contract is set to expire in 2025, when he will be 40 years old. For Gomez's suggestion to materialize, an ambitious MLS owner would need to begin laying groundwork for such a move well in advance, building a comprehensive package to help lure the five-time Champions League winner.
Leeds United are now likely to make a move for an “excellent” attacker if they are promoted from the Championship, with his club setting a £20m asking price, according to a report.
Leeds storming to promotion
Leeds’ dramatic turnaround against Sunderland earlier this month felt like a big moment in the season, with Pascal Struijk bagging a late double to secure a 2-1 victory against a fellow promotion-chasing side at Elland Road.
However, the Whites have since followed it up with an even more impressive win, defeating Sheffield United 3-1 away from home in a real statement victory last time out, moving five clear of the Blades at the top of the Championship table in the process.
Daniel Farke’s side have lost just three league games all season, and they have given themselves a great chance of returning to the top tier next season, but the manager will be aware of the need to strengthen in the summer if his side are to return to the Premier League.
Leeds expected to move for "fantastic" £15m striker; he's "keen" on joining
The Whites have been tipped to make a summer move for a forward who is excited by the prospect of moving to Elland Road.
ByDominic Lund Feb 25, 2025
Some loan players have played a key role in Leeds’ promotion push, namely Joe Rothwell and Manor Solomon, and there has been talk of a potential move to sign the latter player on a permanent basis in the summer.
According to a report from GiveMeSport, it is now likely the Championship leaders will enter negotiations with Tottenham Hotspur over a deal for Solomon, should they achieve their aim of promotion to the top flight.
Leeds United'sManorSolomoncelebrates scoring their first goal
Spurs are willing to sanction the winger’s departure this summer, but he could be a relatively expensive signing for the Whites, as the asking price is now believed to be £20m, which is an increase from the previously reported number between £10m and £15m.
Everton have also been named as potential suitors for the 25-year-old, who is keen on a return to the Premier League, so there may be competition for his signature.
Solomon has been "excellent" in 2025
The Israeli’s loan spell got off to a slow start, often being utilised as a substitute, while also missing a number of matches due to a hamstring injury, but he has been in red-hot form in 2025.
The Spurs loanee has now amassed 14 goal contributions in the Championship, with eight of those coming since the turn of the year, having now established himself as a regular starter.
CBS Sports’ Jake Winderman lauded the left-winger as “excellent” for his performance against Norwich City, and he has also put in some impressive performances in the top flight in the past, scoring four Premier League goals for Fulham in the 2022-23 campaign.
As such, there are signs that Solomon is ready to make the step-up back to the Premier League, so Leeds should definitely pursue a move this summer, although a fee of £20m for a player with very limited top-level experience feels a little high.
da bet vitoria： O fato doBotafogofazer uma nova investida para contar com o atacante Júnior Santos até o fim de 2023 traz algumas peculiaridades. Por ter respaldo do gestor John Textor para traçar um planejamento a médio ou longo prazo, Luís Castro naturalmente conseguiria uma solução “interna” para encontrar o ponta que tanto precisa.
+ MERCADO DA BOLA: veja as transferências no seu time de coração
Embora seja centroavante de ofício, Júnior Santos ganhou moral com Castro ao atuar pelos lados. O comandante alvinegro viu no atacante uma alternativa de força física e de explosão. Além disso, sua dedicação como marcador fez com que o atacante se consolidasse entre os titulares.
RelacionadasBotafogoBotafogo estuda três opções para mandar seus jogos no período sem Nilton SantosBotafogo16/01/2023BotafogoBotafogo começa a remover o gramado do Estádio Nilton SantosBotafogo16/01/2023
da fazobetai： + O Campeonato Carioca começou. Veja a tabela e simule os jogos!
O jogador de 28 anos atuou em 15 rodadas do Brasileirão, balançou a rede uma vez e deu passes para dois gols do Glorioso. Seu desempenho contribuiu para a equipe obter uma das vagas na Copa Sul-Americana (e lutar até a última rodada por uma das vagas na Copa Libertadores), o que faz o técnico Luís Castro confiar em um progresso ainda maior, caso ele siga em 2023.
Outro aspecto pode deixar o Botafogo em vantagem em uma disputa pelo jogador. Por mais que clubes brasileiros também coloquem Júnior Santos na pauta, a maneira como conhece o trabalho de Luís Castro e guarda lembranças com a camisa alvinegra pode fazer com que “retorne” ao clube.
O Botafogo propôs ao Sanfrecce Hiroshima, do Japão, um novo empréstimo de Júnior Santos. Porém, caso o negócio se concretize, desta vez arcará integralmente com os salários.
Root included for Headingley match at own request as Harry Brook sits out series after World Cup call
Matt Roller18-Sep-2023Joe Root has been added to England’s squad for their first ODI against Ireland at Headingley on Wednesday at his own request, as he bids to rediscover his 50-over form ahead of next month’s World Cup.England’s initial 13-man squad to play Ireland did not feature any of their provisional 15-man World Cup squad. But Harry Brook was added to the finalised World Cup squad on Sunday, replacing Jason Roy, and will now rest during the Ireland series after a busy summer across formats.Root struggled for form during England’s 3-1 series win over New Zealand, making 6, 0 and 4 in the first three games before a scratchy, 40-ball 29 in the fourth ODI at Lord’s which exposed his lack of rhythm in the format. All told, he has only batted 16 times in ODIs since the 2019 World Cup.Related
Root: 'I average more with reverse scoop than with forward defence'
Buttler stresses loyalty to old guard as Roy, Root struggle for 50-over form
Roy axed from World Cup squad, Brook included
Luke Wright, England’s national selector, said that Root had “asked to be involved” in Wednesday’s first ODI. “Like for a lot of people, he is getting that rhythm of 50-over cricket,” Wright said. “Obviously we don’t play [much of] it in this country, but a lot of those lads haven’t played a lot of 50-over cricket, especially someone like Joe.”He just wanted a bit more time. It’s a great thing for someone to still have that desire to keep wanting to do more and more. It shows where he’s at with his game and what makes him such a world-class player that, when he doesn’t feel quite right, he still wants to tinker and do more. As much as we probably thought he needed a break as well, he just wanted another go.”Explaining the decision to rest Brook after a quiet series against New Zealand – he made 25, 2 and 10 in his three innings – Wright said: “You only have to look at what he’s had on this summer. He’s had one of the busiest summers out of everyone from the Ashes, into the Hundred and then these series.”It would be silly of us to not give him a break. You always have to look at how much more batting does someone need versus what mental break do they need. I think in this case, we wanted to give him that break before the World Cup so he’s going to rest for that Ireland series.”Wright also suggested that Roy could be involved in the second or third ODIs against Ireland, with England happy to leave the decision in his hands. Roy was told this weekend that he had been dropped from the World Cup squad after he failed to make an appearance against New Zealand, suffering back spasms on the mornings of the first and third ODIs.”We’ve given Jason the option of being involved and he still has the option,” Wright said. “He wasn’t expected to be in that Ireland squad and then to get the news that he was missing out on the World Cup came as a bit of a hammer blow, so we’ve left that with Jason…. We’ll work on that one over the next few days.”With the World Cup squad due to travel to India on September 27 ahead of two warm-up games in Guwahati, England have picked a second-string squad for their Ireland series that will be captained by Zak Crawley. They will train in Leeds on Monday ahead of Wednesday’s series opener, though the weather forecast suggests that game is likely to be washed out.
Manchester United’s transfer activity this summer could define Ruben Amorim’s tenure in charge at Old Trafford, subsequently needing to make a quick start to the 2025/26 campaign.
The 40-year-old is set to have a bumper budget to spend to improve his squad this window, with the hierarchy set to back him in his quest to take them back to their former glory.
It’s evident after the Red Devils’ 15th-placed Premier League finish this season that an overhaul is needed, with key work already commencing during the transfer window.
Manchester United manager RubenAmorimarrives before the match
The departures of Jonny Evans, Christian Eriksen and Victor Lindelof have all been confirmed, freeing up needed money on the wage bill to allow for new investments.
It remains to be seen how much money Amorim will have at his disposal, but it appears as though he’s set to spend big in his hunt for success at the Theatre of Dreams.
The latest on United’s hunt for new signings this window
Work has rapidly been done within United’s attacking department, with PSG’s Gonçalo Ramos being a name mentioned over a move to join the Red Devils, with the French side open to his departure.
They’ve also made progress on a deal for Juventus star Dušan Vlahović, with talks being held with the Serie A outfit over a potential deal for the Serbian international.
However, despite the work being conducted elsewhere, the club appear to be extremely close to landing a deal for Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo, according to talkSPORT’s Alex Crook.
He’s reported that Amorim’s side are on the verge of signing the 25-year-old attacker after they made their latest bid in the region of £60m earlier this week.
Crook also confirms that talks are progressing nicely between the two clubs, with only minor details needing to be ironed out before a deal is agreed.
Why Mbeumo would be a better signing than Cunha for United
Earlier this summer, Matheus Cunha completed his move to join United after being firmly on their radar for many months after his success at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Wolverhampton Wanderers'MatheusCunhacelebrates
The Brazilian joined in a £62.5m deal after registering 15 goals and six assists for Vitor Pereira’s side in the Premier League throughout the 2024/25 campaign.
His versatility, being able to operate in an attacking midfield role or centre forward role, makes him an excellent fit for Amorim’s system, hopefully being a player who can catapult them to future success.
Cunha’s experience in England could prove to be vital in their ambitions next campaign, but he will need added reinforcements within the final third if the Red Devils are to take a step in the right direction.
However, he could be about to land just that in a move for Mbeumo in the coming days, with the Cameroonian showcasing his talents in England’s top-flight this season.
When comparing the pair’s respective figures from this season, the Brentford star has massively outperformed Cunha in various key areas – highlighting why he would be a better addition.
Mbeumo, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by one analyst, has registered more goals and achieved a better shot on target accuracy rate, demonstrating his clinical ability within the final third.
Games played
38
33
Goals & assists
27
21
Shot on target accuracy
43%
40%
Goal per shot on target
0.4
0.3
Take-on success
47%
44%
Carries into final third
2
1.4
Crosses completed
5.3
4.9
Aerials won
32%
31%
He’s also completed more of the take-ons he’s attempted, whilst posting more carries into the box per 90, showcasing the direct nature he possesses with the ball at his feet.
The Cameroonian’s dominance doesn’t end there, completing more crosses and winning more aerials per 90, handing Amorim an all-round dangerous option in attacking areas.
Should the deal be completed in the coming days, it would certainly improve the options currently at the manager’s disposal, something which he’s greatly craved as of late.
The prospect of Mbeumo and Cunha linking up together is certainly an exciting one, handing the club the platform to build on ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
He's perfect for Mbeumo: Wilcox opens talks to sign £35m star for Man Utd
Manchester United could be about to make a move for another young gem this summer.
“It’s the role that I play for the St Lucia franchise where I just come in and just knock it around,” Chase said
Deivarayan Muthu15-Oct-2021West Indies have (almost) got their band back together. Dwayne Bravo came out of T20I retirement in 2019. Lendl Simmons and Ravi Rampaul have put themselves back in the side through strong performances in the CPL for Trinbago Knight Riders. Chris Gayle, Andre Russell and Kieron Pollard are all bonafide T20 legends, but there’s just one missing piece in West Indies’ jigsaw: the anchor.It was Marlon Samuels who stepped up as West Indies’ anchorman in their world title victories in 2012 and in 2016. West Indies have built so much T20 depth that they can pack their side with power-hitters, but in sluggish conditions, there is still a case for someone to play the role of an anchor. That someone could well be Roston Chase.Chase made his maiden Test hundred in only his second Test, against India, including having Viv Richards getting up on his feet and screaming his name, and ultimately leading West Indies to an improbable draw. More such back-to-the-wall innings in Test cricket saw him become West Indies’ “Crisis Man”. Along the way, however, he was pigeonholed as a Test specialist, playing a grand total of five T20s between his debut in 2012 to 2018.In 2020, Chase returned to the CPL as a replacement player for the St Lucia franchise. In CPL 2021, he not only became Kings’ main player but also the tournament’s main player. According to ESPNcricinfo’s Smart Stats, which adds context to every performance, Chase was the MVP in the most recent CPL with a player rating of 66.75. It was just too hard for the national selectors to ignore Chase’s reinvention as a T20 player as he elbowed his way into West Indies’ squad for the T20 World Cup.Roston Chase delivered immense value to his CPL franchise this year•ESPNcricinfo LtdIt had seemed unlikely two years back, when Chase didn’t even get a CPL gig. He wasn’t originally supposed to play CPL 2020 either, but the late withdrawal of Australia’s Jonathan Wells provided him an opening at the Kings (then Zouks). Coach Andy Flower saw something in his T20 game that many others didn’t.”Very impressed [with Chase] but not that surprised actually because I’ve been involved in the CPL for two years now and we recruited him last year. I was surprised that he was available when I came in quite late in the piece,” Flower said at a virtual media interaction during CPL 2021. “He’s always looked like a quality allrounder to me. He’s a very clever offspinner, he fields well and he can marshal the innings in the middle of a T20 innings.”Chase has grown so much as a T20 player over the last two years that he’s now ready to slip into Samuels’ shoes.”I see myself playing a similar role [to Samuels],” Chase said, speaking from West Indies’ base in Dubai. “It’s the role that I play for the St Lucia franchise last two years where I just come in, most likely after the powerplay, and just knock it around. Pick up the ones and twos and get the occasional boundary when the ball is in my area to score. So, it’s an easy role for me and I like that role and with the power-hitting guys we have in this team, my role should be just to really give them the strike and let them do their thing. If the ball is in my area, I’d put it away.”Chase’s steady presence in the middle order could potentially break up a sequence of left-handers, which includes Evin Lewis, Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, and deny the opposition favourable match-ups. And against teams packed with left-handed batters, Chase’s own cagey offspin could come in handy for West Indies. In his most recent T20 appearance, the CPL final, Chase took the new ball and took out St Kitts & Nevis Patriots’ Chris Gayle for a duck in the first over of the chase.Plus, Chase is no one-trick pony with the bat. He did show that he has another gear in CPL 2021, hitting 59 boundaries (35 fours and 24 sixes). Only Evin Lewis had struck more boundaries than Chase in this season.”I think what we’ve seen in this CPL compared to the one a year ago, he’s growing in confidence with his boundary-hitting,” Flower said. “He’s somewhere up near the top of the leaderboard on the sixes hit so far in this tournament and I’d imagine that’s going to carry on.”The tracks in the UAE might not be a whole lot different from the ones in the Caribbean. They are tiring at the IPL and could keep low, as Chase noted.”It’s just to spend time on each wicket you plan on, as I said, but we’ve had three training sessions so far,” Chase said. “Basically the pitches have been coming on pretty good, but the only issue I see with the pitches are they are keeping a bit low. You probably have to stay low when you’re executing your shots and that should work. But the pitches are coming on a lot that reminds of what we get in the CPL, so should be a bit easier to get some runs.”Chase is also unfazed by the prospect of making his T20I debut at the World Cup against England, the pre-tournament favourites and holders of the 50-over world title.”I have no idea what the nerves will be like because I haven’t reached that stage yet,” Chase said. “The game hasn’t come as yet, but usually in my Test debut or my one-day debut, I’m not really a big nervous person. Most time[s] I really get nervous is when I walk out to bat. Once I walk out to bat, I call for my guard and I do my routine and when the first ball hits the bat, all the nerves are gone. Just play bat on ball from there and look to do my job as best as possible.”So, I can’t say that it’s a big overwhelming feeling. I’m not a stranger to the international scene. I’ve been around the West Indies team for five-six years now. So, it’s going to be like any other cricket game, but obviously it’s a World Cup, little more special feeling behind it. But, as I say, once the first ball is bowled or whatever the case maybe, it’s just a fight out there.”