One of the reasons why Indian fast bowlers tend to break down is that they don't have miles in the legs. The current crop spends a lot of time in the gym, focusing on strength training, at the expense of running-based endurance exercises. Endurance gives a fast bowler a high ceiling as far as workload is concerned.
The BCCI rejigged the Indian team support staff after the disastrous tour of Australia last winter and bringing on Adrian le Roux as the strength and conditioning coach was one of the better decisions taken of late. The South African readily diagnosed the problem and came up with a solution, which is the rugby-style Bronco Test. It involves multiple shuttle runs of 20 metres, 40 metres and 60 metres. The Bronco Test was introduced during India's Test series in England. Several cricketers have undergone it at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bangalore as well.
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The Bronco Test will not replace the existing Yo-Yo Test that is used to check a cricketer's fitness level. The two tests will complement each other.
What is the Bronco Test?
It's a high-intensity aerobic running drill that measures a player's stamina, along with speed and cardiovascular efficiency. The shuttle runs of all three distances comprise a set and players should complete five sets, totalling 1,200 metres, within six minutes without a break. The Indian Express has reported that it is currently being used as a standard measure for fitness, especially for the fast bowlers.
“The Bronco Test has been introduced at the Centre of Excellence. Some of India's contracted players have travelled to Bengaluru and have taken the test. It is being used to ensure there are clear fitness standards. Also, it was noticed that Indian cricketers, more so the fast bowlers, were not running enough and spending too much time in the gym. Players have been told that they will have to do more running,” a source was quoted as saying by the paper.
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The Yo-Yo Test, introduced at the behest of Virat Kohli when he was the captain, is a little different. It involves running between two cones set at 20 metres apart. With the pace increasing at each level, players are allowed a 10-second recovery time. The test mainly focuses on agility, and the minimum score to clear it is 17.1.
During his 16-year-long international career, Kapil Dev hardly ever broke down. He bowled 27,740 deliveries in Test cricket alone, never hesitating to bowl long spells on unresponsive Indian pitches. Running was what he did to increase his level of endurance. Indian cricket is seemingly going back to move forward.
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