The Bronco Test: Cricket Version
If you thought the Yo-Yo Test was tough, wait until you meet its big brother, the Bronco Test. This brutal endurance challenge has long been a staple of rugby training, but now it’s making its way into cricket, including the Indian national team. And trust me, it’s not for the faint-hearted.
What Is the Bronco Test?
The Bronco Test is basically a high-intensity shuttle run designed to test aerobic capacity, agility, stamina, and mental toughness all at once.
Here’s how it works:
- Mark out distances of 20m, 40m, and 60m from a starting point.
- One rep is running:
0 → 60m → 0 → 40m → 0 → 20m → 0 (that’s 240m in one go). - Complete this five times without stopping, covering a brutal 1,200m total.
Sounds simple, right? Until you try it, then you realise why it’s feared and respected in equal measure.
Why Do Athletes Use It?
- Rugby roots: It’s a go-to test for elite rugby sides like the All Blacks to measure endurance and repeated changes of direction.
- Cheat-proof: Unlike the Yo-Yo Test, there’s no sneaky shortcuts. You either finish your shuttles or you don’t.
- Easy to set up: All you need is a flat surface and markers but it’s the results that sting.
Best Scores of Bronco Test
This is where it gets scary. Elite rugby players smash this test in times that will make your lungs hurt just reading them:
- Beauden Barrett & Cam Roigard (All Blacks): 4 mins 12 secs
- Hugo Keenan (Ireland): 4 mins 11 secs – current record
- Ryan Crotty: -4:59
- Richie McCaw: -4:56
For comparison, everyday athletes and beginners usually fall in the 5 to 7-minute range. If you’re hitting sub-5, you’re seriously fit.
The Bronco Test in Indian Cricket
Here’s the twist – the Bronco Test isn’t just for rugby bruisers anymore. The Indian cricket team, under head coach Gautam Gambhir and fitness boss Adrian le Roux, has introduced it to their fitness programme.
Why? Because it’s tougher to “game the system” compared to the Yo-Yo Test or the 2km time trial. The Bronco forces cricketers to show real endurance and agility under fatigue, which translates perfectly to long days in the field.
Quick Overview
| Aspect | Details |
| Purpose | Tests aerobic fitness, agility, stamina, mental toughness |
| Structure | 5 x shuttle runs (0-60-0-40-0-20-0) = 1,200m total |
| Top Performers | Beauden Barrett & Cam Roigard (4:12), Hugo Keenan (4:11 record) |
| Average Range | 5-7 mins for most athletes |
| Adopted By | All Blacks, Irish Rugby, Indian cricket team (2025) |
Final Word
The Bronco Test is pure pain wrapped up in a stopwatch. It doesn’t just measure fitness, it exposes character. That’s why rugby giants swear by it, and why cricket is now catching on.
So next time someone brags about their Yo-Yo score, just ask: “Yeah, but what’s your Bronco time?”
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