What is Bronco Test in cricket? All you need to know

Head coach Gautam Gambhir and strength & conditioning coach Adrian le Roux have introduced the Bronco Test in addition to the existing Yo-Yo Test and 2-kilometre time trial in Indian cricket team's fitness test regime. This comes in a bid to increase the overall standard of fitness.

The Bronco Test was originally developed for rugby players. This physical assessment helps measure aerobic endurance and pushes cardiovascular limits to another extreme. The introduction comes as an indicator towards endurance-focused fitness metrics in Indian cricket. 

What Is The Bronco Test?

The fast-paced Bronco Test is an aerobic running drill designed to gauge three aspects of a player: stamina, speed and cardiovascular conditioning. The shuttle-run comprises of 20, 40 and 60 meters. One set consists running all three distances. The players are required to perform five continuous sets within six minutes, totalling a distance of 1200 meters without rest.

The test has been introduced on the recommendation of le Roux. The South African rejoined the Indian team in the aforementioned role in June earlier this year. le Roux has had stints with Cricket South Africa and Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings. 

The Bronco Test has been introduced amid a growing concern of fast bowlers spending more time in the gym than focusing on their running mechanisms.

"The Bronco Test has been introduced at the Centre of Excellence. Some of India's contracted players have travelled to Bengaluru and have taken the test. It is being used to ensure there are clear fitness standards. Also, it was noticed that Indian cricketers, more so the fast bowlers, were not running enough and spending too much time in the gym. Players have been told that they will have to do more running," sa source was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.

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How Does Bronco Test Differ From Yo-Yo Test?

The Yo-Yo Test, which has been in the Indian cricketing system since 2017, has been a key component of India's fitness regime since 2017. The Yo-Yo Test focuses on interval recovery and agility. On the other hand, the Bronco Test is designed to measure continuous aerobic endurance.