New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has introduced a new fitness benchmark called the Bronco Test for players aspiring to represent the Indian men’s team. While this test is new to cricket, it has long been a staple in rugby, designed to push athletes to their cardiovascular limits and assess endurance, stamina, agility, and mental toughness — all of which are becoming increasingly important in the modern era of cricket where players are on the field for longer durations.
The Bronco Test is structured as a series of continuous shuttle runs. Four cones are placed at 0m, 20m, 40m, and 60m from a baseline. A player begins at the start line and runs to the 20m cone and back, then to the 40m cone and back, and finally to the 60m cone and back. This sequence, covering 240 meters, is considered one set. Each player must complete five such sets, thereby running a total of 1,200 meters without any rest. The time taken to finish determines the player’s score, and because the test is continuous, it becomes a real challenge of both physical endurance and mental resilience.
The introduction of this test is significant because it mimics many of the physical demands seen in cricket. Sprinting between the wickets, chasing balls towards the boundary, changing direction quickly, and maintaining speed repeatedly during long matches all require exceptional cardiovascular health. The Bronco Test replicates these movements and conditions, ensuring players are better prepared for such demands.
Unlike the Yo-Yo Test, which has been the standard in cricket for years and measures intermittent endurance with built-in recovery breaks, the Bronco Test is a measure of continuous aerobic endurance. In simple terms, the Yo-Yo Test checks how well players can perform sprints with rest intervals, while the Bronco Test pushes players to sustain constant high-intensity effort without pause.
With the cricket calendar busier than ever, the BCCI believes the Bronco Test is a tougher and more reliable gauge of fitness levels. It ensures players not only have speed and agility but also the stamina and grit required to handle the demands of modern-day international cricket.
