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The Journey of a Cult can be marked by clear stages.

1. The Grand Vision

A charismatic leader or leaders introduce a revolutionary approach that promises a cure for disconnected individuals.

And so it goes. Preparations are underway to challenge the establishment overseas. The gunships are circling. Signs of trouble appear from the out-houses. A lone figure, vulnerable, shivering, the phrase ATTACKING MINDSET smeared across his chest as a statement, has stumbled into view and is being led away under a blanket for a temporary assignment at Derbyshire.

Do you recall the beginning, when the world was still young? The era of early Bazball, of uninhibited aggression.

2. The Honeymoon Phase

Cult leaders guarantee a new start, optimism ahead, camaraderie, redemption within a community who all believe in the big idea.

What did it represent back then? Just men on a balcony basking in glory. Ink. Forearms. Jawlines. Elite male wellness energy. Admittedly, The team will claim Bazball doesn’t actually exist, which is funny because if it doesn’t exist, what did we see?

However, everyone understands the concept. It’s the batsman playing a shot so outrageous it has to be pixelated. It’s the thrill of the captain at his peak, a look that says: focused titan, strong features, natural look, truly contemporary you wouldn’t be surprised to look down and find him positioned on the ground stripped to the waist and cradling a wild salmon.

It’s the batsman still being allowed to talk in press conferences, resembling a cheerful animal smartly dressed, expressing thoughts like we are actively deconstructing the orange. Indeed, the energy, for quite a long time, was only good energy.

3. A New Life

Growth phase. Cohesion maintained by rote learning of the cult’s slogans. These beliefs can appear contradictory as a test of “true belief”.

Is it just me? The backlash, the outrage, the feeling of letdown post-defeat appears excessive, overdone. The performance was poor on the field, as is typical there. They were dominated while bowling during a brief period as plans unraveled, carved around by the opponent imitating their style effectively, responsive to the situation, a performer excelling with a kind of light around him.

And now we have this the pile-on, the rage, the perception of the team as a failure. The consensus is that losing isn’t enough, they must be humbled, to be cleansed, flame-throwered, overwhelmed via traditional methods of Mitchell Starc’s movements, the conventional tactics of Scott Boland, out there celebrating his wickets humbly similar to getting a rewarding prize. What impact will this have?

4. The Backlash Phase

Challenges surface due to setbacks. But the cult cannot admit errors. It begins to thrive on anger towards critics.

In truth, approaching the next match, we have now reached a critical juncture in the lifespan of this thing. England could quite easily win in Brisbane through aggressive play. Alternatively, failure may follow. Should they fail it appears we really might be entering the decline.

Before that happens, there are two things to consider regarding this. Previously, during the initial excitement, of passion and hope, I wrote an article calling it a phenomenon. People were very angry, which demonstrated since it’s clear how to confirm lack of cult status is when its acolytes react defensively rejecting criticism of the beliefs.

What has happened recently are equally notable. Opposition to the style is now the trend. We have a uniformly angry internet, angry English pundits, shots of angry middle-aged travelling fans missing out on play, like a room full of investors demanding recourse.

On the other hand, there is the broader context of Australia’s more nuanced more culturally hard-wired exasperation at these weirdly passive-aggressive buccaneers, stating, your cherished traditions and have honed as part of your identity from the opposition, well, it’s all a bit of a gag after all.

Here lies the truth. It’s all cults. The approach was a phenomenon as the game has its own culture. Or at least, the team has long been exclusive, a circle, a garden party, a closed world with centuries of ceremonial past behind it. This has always been where influence is guarded. It’s the British pastime of the nation, the pioneering brand. And guess what, the nation has its own culture, a system of unknown levels, a royal family remains.

England’s cricketers have been enclosed in this environment from a young age. Attempting to break free, to build a better atmosphere, they are mirroring their past, forming a new circle, a limited community, but now with a new team and a mentor promoting authenticity if you fit the mold.

Focus on the moment. Run towards the danger. Despite efforts, things stay similar.

Reflecting on this, it might be appropriate to have some sympathy for the movement, to recognize its positives, which are significant. What is Bazball? Creating a sense of freedom. Defying norms. Batting aggressively|Attacking with