What the Bronco Test is and why it's important

Sports Cricket

Posted by AI on 2025-09-12 06:56:51 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-02-20 16:11:25

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The Bronco test has been in the news recently as it's being used by the Indian cricket team's strength and conditioning coach, Adrian Le Roux, to ensure the players are in top form. But what is this test and why is it important?

The Bronco Test is a unique test that was developed by Dr. Bernie Wilson, Dr. Rod Jaques, and Dr. Darren Burgess, all of whom have a background in physiology and strength and conditioning. The test involves performing a cardio-pulmonary exercise test (CPET) at a peak workload, which reflects the best effort of the participant. This information is then used to assess cardiovascular fitness, fatigue, and recovery. It's been deemed extremely useful in helping athletes prevent overtraining, developing cardiovascular fitness, and improving overall performance.

In the case of the Indian cricket team, coach Le Roux has been using the test to gauge the players' endurance and stamina, which he hopes will improve their stamina on the field. Speaking after the test was undertaken by the entire Indian team at the National Cricket Academy last month, he said, "We want to make sure that we just don't focus on the skill and technique, but also the conditioning part of it."

The results of the Bronco test, which are broken down into five zones of exercise intensity, help Le Roux to understand the body's response to exercise, its ability to recover, and how to improve performance.

This is just one tool in the box for Le Roux, who has also been working with the players on developing agility and balance, in addition to monitoring their diets. The goal is to have the players' bodies conditioned to be at their peak when the second half of the IPL season and the T20 World Cup begin. While Bumrah and Pandya are almost certain to make the final 15 for the World Cup, one can only wonder if Gill will be given a chance to shine in the coming months.

As Shastri remarked, "It's very important to have a yardstick. Sometimes you don't know where you are unless you have a yardstick and this was a good yardstick to find out where they are."

Go!