Last Updated:
Ravichandran Ashwin has discussed the impact of the Bronco test on India cricketers’ fitness, trainer changes and potential injury risks in Ash ki Baat.
Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on December 18, 2024. (Picture Credit: AP)
Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has said that when the trainers change, the testing mechanism changes, adding that the reported introduction of the Bronco test might put the cricketers through a lot of difficulty and might also lead to injuries.
With the Bronco test now in place, the YoYo test is no longer the only benchmark for measuring fitness.
It is worth noting that the Bronco test is designed to assess aerobic endurance and challenge a player’s cardiovascular capacity.
Adrian le Roux, who replaced Soham Desai as strength and conditioning coach, has requested the pacers to focus on increasing their running workload instead of relying just on gym-based training. Only Mohammed Siraj featured in all five games of the England series, raising questions over the fitness of the other pacers.
On his YouTube channel Ash ki Baat, Ashwin explained that cricketers face added challenges when trainers change and introduce their own methods.
“I have always asked the trainers. When the trainers change, the testing mechanism changes. The trainer changes, the training schemes change. When this happens, players go through a lot of difficulty,” Ashwin said.
“As a player, if you keep changing training schemes, it is virtually very difficult for the players. In many cases, it could also lead to injuries. I am not denying that, it has led to injuries,” Ashwin added.
“From 2017 to 2019, I was searching for my training scheme. I have endured this. Soham Desai knows all about this,” Ashwin said.
The Bronco test, used in rugby and football, assesses a player’s aerobic endurance and recovery capacity. The test needs to be completed with five shuttle runs of 20 m, 40 m and 60 m each, without breaks.
Completing all five sets covers a total of 1,200 m, with the time recorded; faster times reflect higher fitness levels.
“I just want to raise some questions. As a player, the problem is one of continuity. I would really like some continuity. It is important to give that. I would just want that whenever a new trainer comes in, he should work with the outgoing trainer for six months to one year to give the handover,” Ashwin said.
Read More
