The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made another giant leap in ensuring that players are physically capable of coping with today's demanding cricket calendar. Having used primarily the Yo-Yo Test and the 2-kilometre time trial for years, the team management has introduced the Rugby-centric Bronco Test to the fitness regimen. This step, supported by head coach Gautam Gambhir and strength and conditioning coach Adrian le Roux, is likely to be a game-changer, particularly for fast bowlers. What is the Bronco Test? The Bronco Test is a running test drill that is borrowed from rugby, which is a sport famous for its high fitness levels. This test is very different from gym training as it focuses solely on stamina, speed, and endurance. Here's how it works: A player runs 20 meters, followed by 40 meters, and then 60 meters. That repetition is one set. The player does that five times consecutively, without rest. Overall, it's 1,200 meters of running. Players should complete the drill in less than six minutes. Visual Representation: Source: SS (Indian Express) By its end, the test exhausts the body to its aerobic limits, so it is one of the most challenging endurance exercises in cricket. According to the reports by the Indian Express, some of the top Indian cricketers have undergone this Bronco Test at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Also Read | Vikrant Gupta Alleges Political Pressure in Asia Cup Squad Why Has BCCI Introduced It? The decision to introduce the Bronco Test was taken following India's last Test series in England, where several fast bowlers are reported to have had problems with their fitness and injuries. Only Mohammed Siraj out of all pacers played all five games, while others encountered issues with their conditioning. Adrian le Roux, who had rejoined the Indian team setup in June, had proposed the inclusion of the Bronco Test. Having had experiences with Cricket South Africa, IPL franchises, and earlier with Team India in the early 2000s, he was firmly of the opinion that pacers needed to develop their fitness more through running rather than heavy gym work alone. Gambhir concurred with that view and made it a part of the new system. How is It Different from the Yo-Yo Test? The Yo-Yo Test, also still in practice, consists of shuttle runs with gradual increment in speed with pauses in between. Two cones are placed at a distance of 20m and players are required to cover the distance at increasing speeds, with a 10-seconds break between every 40m. It tests how a player recovers between bouts of intense work. The Indian player benchmark has been fixed at Level 17.1. The Bronco Test, however, does not permit rest within the run. It is a single prolonged effort, so it requires more stamina and resilience. Whereas the Yo-Yo Test is all about velocity and recovery, the Bronco is an assessment of prolonged running capability, something that is very important for bowlers who must endure long periods of going for it.