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The Journey of a Cult can be marked by distinct phases.

1. The Grand Vision

A dominant personality or coaches present a revolutionary approach that promises a solution for alienated and vulnerable people.

Thus we find ourselves. They’re getting ready to confront the system in Australia. The gunships are circling. Smoke is rising from the sidelines. A lone figure, naked, nervous, the phrase ATTACKING MINDSET smeared across his chest in chicken blood, has stumbled from the field and is being led away with discretion towards an inconclusive loan stint elsewhere.

Do you ever miss the early days, when optimism reigned? The era of early Bazball, of pure instinct.

2. Initial Adoration

Team architects promise a fresh beginning, hope for a future, love, salvation together who all believe in the philosophy.

What was this thing back then? A team united basking in glory. Ink. Strength. Determination. Confident masculinity. Admittedly, England’s players often say Bazball doesn’t actually exist, which is funny since it’s not recognized, what did we see?

Yet it’s clear the concept. It’s the batsman executing a stroke so depraved it’s beyond belief. It’s the excitement of Ben Stokes in his final form, an expression conveying: pensive Nordic god, rugged appearance, natural look, so authentically Modern Savage you wouldn’t be surprised to notice and find him positioned in the field shirtless embracing nature.

It’s Ben Duckett often seen addressing the media, appearing as a cheerful animal in a waistcoat, saying stuff like we are actively deconstructing the orange. Certainly, the atmosphere, for a significant period, was uplifting.

3. The Growth Phase

Development stage. Togetherness strengthened through repetition of key phrases. These beliefs are often illogical as a loyalty check.

Am I alone? The backlash, the fury, the disappointment following the initial loss seems too strong, too much. England batted badly on the field, as they often do in Australia. They were torn apart while bowling during a brief period as plans unraveled, outplayed by the opponent batting like England but better, adjusting to the pitch, an athlete shining with aura.

Currently, we see the pile-on, the frustration, the perception of the team as a failure. The consensus is that England don’t just need to lose, they need to lose righteously, to be scoured, destroyed, defeated through sheer skill of the pace attack, the low-fi orthodoxies of Scott Boland, seen enjoying his wickets humbly similar to getting a rewarding prize. What will this do to them?

4. The Backlash Phase

Challenges surface because of mistakes. Yet, mistakes are denied. It starts to feed on anger towards critics.

Ultimately, half a week out the upcoming game, we’ve entered an intriguing moment in the story of this thing. Victory is possible overseas with bold tactics. Alternatively, failure may follow. And if they do lose it seems we really might be entering the decline.

Prior to that, several aspects to note regarding this. In the past, at the start, of light and heat, I wrote an article suggesting Bazball was a cult. People were very angry, which demonstrated because everyone knows how to confirm lack of cult status is should followers react defensively rejecting criticism of the philosophy.

Recent events recently are fascinating. Criticism of the approach has turned into a movement. We have a uniformly angry internet, disappointed commentators, shots of angry middle-aged supporters abroad missing out on play, like a room full of timeshare owners seeking justice.

Conversely, there is the broader context of Australia’s more nuanced deep-seated frustration at these weirdly passive-aggressive buccaneers, out there saying, hey, that thing you love and have honed to distinguish yourselves from others, it’s not serious ultimately.

And this is the real point. All movements are similar. The style was a trend as the game has its own culture. In fact, English cricket has always been a cult, a clique, an elite gathering, a closed world with two hundred years of ceremonial past supporting it. This has always been where influence is guarded. It’s the British pastime of the British, the original sports washers. And surprisingly, Britain is itself a cult, a system of unknown levels, a monarchy still exists.

The team have been isolated within this world for years. Attempting to break free, to build a better atmosphere, they are mirroring their past, building another enclosure, a limited community, but doing it this time with a modern squad and a mentor encouraging individuality if you fit the mold.

Focus on the moment. Confront risks. Despite efforts, you remain stuck.

Reflecting on this, it is perhaps the moment to offer compassion for Bazball, to appreciate its good points, of which there are many. How to define it? Encouraging expression. Defying norms. Batting aggressively|Attacking with