In a move that will likely revolutionize fitness standards, and also set a benchmark of Indian players, head coach Gautam Gambhir and strength conditioning coach Adrian le Roux have introduced the Bronco Test. Notably, there is just the Yo-Yo Test and 2-kilometer time trail as the parameters to judge players' fitness and endurance.
However, the new Bronco Test is designed to assess players' aerobic strength & test players' cardiovascular limits. According to an Indian Express report, the idea to implement this new Test came from Le Roux, who joined the Gambhir-led coaching staff in June. He also had worked with the national team in the 2000s, and has done several stints with South Africa, IPL teams Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Punjab Kings (PBKS).
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The decision to incorporate the Bronco Test comes in the wake of India's series against England, where the management identified sub-standard fitness levels of pacers. Notably, Mohammed Siraj was the one to play all five Tests, raising issues about the endurance and durability of the remaining pacers. Le Roux has especially given instructions to fast bowlers to work on increasing their workload, rather than purely relying on gym-based training.
What will the Bronco Test do?
The Bronco Test will now be part of the Indian Team's fitness regime. It will consist of five continuous sets of shuttle runs from 20, 40, and 60 meters, totaling 1,200 meters without a pause. The time given for the players to complete the Test is six minutes. Some of the top cricketers have already undergone this Test at the BCCI's Center of Excellence in Bengaluru.
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Gambhir has backed this new fitness rule and going forward, Bronco Test will a key parameter in deciding a player's fitness. For over a long time, BCCI used only the Yo-Yo Test and 2Km time trail as fitness parameters, but the implementation of the Bronco Test focuses on player's endurance and game-readiness. This test is also set to play an essential role in players vying for spots in Tests and ODIs, as that is the two formats where the physical performance will be tested for a long time.
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