TV
The BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) has rolled out a new fitness evaluation called the Bronco Test following the recently concluded India vs England Test series. The primary aim of this test is to ensure that centrally contracted players—especially the fast bowlers—maintain peak fitness levels and enhance their aerobic capacity.
According to reports, this move was initiated after several players were found lacking in fitness standards during the five-match series in England. The idea of introducing the Bronco Test is credited to strength and conditioning coach Adrian le Roux, with head coach Gautam Gambhir supporting the recommendation. Le Roux believes that cricketers, particularly pacers, need to focus more on running and endurance work rather than spending excessive time in the gym. Some contracted players have already undergone the test at the CoE in Bengaluru.
A source confirmed that the Bronco Test has now been implemented at the Centre of Excellence. A few contracted players have travelled to Bengaluru to take the assessment. The purpose is to create clear fitness benchmarks. It was observed that Indian players, especially fast bowlers, were not running enough and were instead prioritizing gym sessions. They’ve now been instructed to incorporate more running into their training.
During the England series, several Indian bowlers—such as Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna—struggled to sustain long bowling spells. While Jasprit Bumrah featured in only three Tests due to workload management, Mohammed Siraj was the only pacer to play the full series. To address such concerns, the Bronco Test has been added alongside the existing Yo-Yo Test.
What is Bronco Test?
The test requires a player to complete a sequence of shuttle runs: first 20 meters, then 40 meters, followed by 60 meters. This combination forms one set. Each player must complete five sets in succession (totaling 1200 meters) without rest. The benchmark set for Indian cricketers is to finish the test within 6 minutes.
For comparison, in the existing 2-km time trial, the required standard for fast bowlers is 8 minutes 15 seconds, while batsmen, wicketkeepers, and spinners are expected to finish in 8 minutes 30 seconds.
