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The Journey of a Cult is often characterized by clear stages.

1. The Big Idea

An inspiring figure or leaders propose an innovative concept pledging a cure for alienated and vulnerable people.

Thus we find ourselves. They’re getting ready to confront the system in Australia. The gunships are circling. Signs of trouble appear from within. An isolated player, vulnerable, shivering, the phrase ATTACKING MINDSET smeared across his chest in chicken blood, has emerged from the field and is being led away with discretion towards an inconclusive loan stint at Derbyshire.

Remember the beginning, when the world was still young? The initial phase, of Bazball without brains.

2. The Honeymoon Phase

Cult leaders guarantee a new start, hope for a future, love, success among a group with shared faith in the method.

How did it feel initially? Players celebrating basking in glory. Ink. Forearms. Jawlines. Peak performance vibes. Of course, The squad insist Bazball doesn’t actually exist, ironically since it’s not recognized, what did we see?

Yet it’s clear the concept. It’s Harry Brook executing a stroke so outrageous it defies description. It’s the adrenaline of the captain in his final form, an expression conveying: pensive Nordic god, beard made of wood, natural look, truly contemporary you wouldn’t be surprised to glance over and find him positioned in the field stripped to the waist holding a fish.

It’s the opener continuing to have permission addressing the media, out there looking like a happy little woodland creature formally attired, saying stuff like we are actively deconstructing the orange. Certainly, the atmosphere, for a significant period, was only good energy.

3. The Growth Phase

Growth phase. Unity enforced via memorization of key phrases. These beliefs may seem irrational as a test of “true belief”.

Does anyone else feel? The reaction, the anger, the feeling of letdown following the initial loss seems too strong, unwarranted. England batted badly during the match, as history shows. They were dominated defensively in a short span as the bowling and captaincy fell apart, manipulated by the batsman batting like England but better, adaptive to conditions, a performer excelling with a kind of light around him.

And now we have this the pile-on, the frustration, the sense of English Test cricket as a kind of abomination. The feeling seems to be that losing isn’t enough, they should be dismantled, to be cleansed, obliterated, overwhelmed through sheer skill of the pace attack, the low-fi orthodoxies of Scott Boland, marking achievements modestly like he’s just been given a rewarding prize. How will they respond?

4. Hate Bonding

Problems arise due to setbacks. Yet, mistakes are denied. It begins to thrive on anger towards critics.

In truth, a few days before the next match, we have now reached a delicious point of tension in the journey of this movement. Victory is possible overseas through aggressive play. Alternatively, failure may follow. And if they do lose it appears we really might be entering the final stage.

Ahead of this, several aspects to consider on the topic. In the past, during the initial excitement, of optimism and energy, I wrote an article calling it a phenomenon. Criticism followed, which demonstrated because everyone knows a method to show something definitely isn’t a cult is if supporters respond with anger rejecting criticism of its truths.

What has happened lately is just as interesting. It seems that hating Bazball has now become the cult. We have a uniformly angry internet, disappointed commentators, pictures of upset supporters abroad cheated out of three days of cricket, reminiscent of timeshare owners seeking justice.

Meanwhile, there is the broader context of Australia’s more nuanced more culturally hard-wired exasperation at these weirdly passive-aggressive buccaneers, out there saying, the methods you value and have honed as part of your identity culturally from us, well, it’s all a bit of a gag after all.

Here lies the truth. Everything is a cult. The style was a trend since the sport itself is insular. Or at least, the sport in England is closed, a clique, an elite gathering, an insular community with a long history of tradition and mystery supporting it. It has long been where entry is limited. It’s the colonial game of the British, the pioneering brand. And surprisingly, the nation has its own culture, a system of unknown levels, a royal family remains.

The team have been sealed up in this environment for years. Seeking change, to create a less brutal environment, they are simply replicating their own experience, building another enclosure, a closed circle, but now with a new team and a coach promoting authenticity if you fit the mold.

Live where your feet are. Confront risks. But no matter how fast and far you run, you remain stuck.

With this mind, now is the time to have some sympathy for the approach, to acknowledge its merits, which are significant. What is Bazball? Creating a sense of freedom. Questioning traditions. Batting aggressively|Attacking with