The BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) has introduced a new fitness assessment called the Bronco test in the aftermath of the IND vs ENG Test series. The goal of the new test is to ensure that the BCCI centrally contracted players, particularly the pacers, maintain high-level of fitness and improve their aerobic capacity. As per reports, the Bronco test has been introduced after the fitness levels of several players were found not up to the mark in the five-match Test series in England.
India stars to undergo Bronco test
As per The Indian Express, the suggestion to introduce the new fitness assessment came from strength and conditioning coach Adrian le Roux, with head coach Gautam Gambhir agreeing to the same. The report states that the S&C coach wants players, fast bowlers in particular, to run more miles instead of being over-focused on gym. The report states that some of the contracted players have already undertaken the Bronco Test at the CoE in Bengaluru.
“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. The Bronco Test 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,” a source said.
Multiple Indian bowlers, including Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna, struggled to bowl through the course of the IND vs ENG Test series. While Jasprit Bumrah played just three Tests as a part of workload management, it was only Mohammed Siraj who managed to play all five Tests. The Bronco test comes in addition to the already existing yo-yo test.
What is the Bronco test?
A player will start with a 20m shuttle run which will be followed by a 40m and a 60m run. Together, it constitutes one set. A player is expected to do five such sets (amounting to 1200 m) without taking a break. The report states that the Indian cricketers have been asked to complete the Bronco test in a span of 6 minutes. In the 2-km time trial, the benchmark for fast bowlers was 8 minutes and 15 seconds. For batsmen, wicket-keepers and spinners, it was 8 minutes and 30 seconds.
