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The Journey of a Cult can be defined by specific steps.

1. The Big Idea

A charismatic leader or figureheads propose an innovative concept that promises a panacea for alienated and vulnerable people.

So here we are. They’re getting ready to challenge the establishment down in Brisbane. Pressure is mounting. Conflict emerges from within. An isolated player, vulnerable, shivering, the phrase ATTACKING MINDSET displayed prominently as a symbol, has emerged through the lines and is being led away under a blanket to a different team elsewhere.

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

2. Love-Bombing

Movement founders offer a new start, a brighter tomorrow, love, redemption among a group with shared faith in the big idea.

What did it represent initially? A team united basking in glory. Tattoos. Strength. Determination. Peak performance vibes. Admittedly, England’s players often say they don’t use the label, which is funny since it’s not recognized, what did we see?

Yet it’s clear what it is. It’s Harry Brook executing a stroke so unconventional it has to be pixelated. It’s the excitement of the leader in ultimate mode, a look that says: focused titan, rugged appearance, untamed style, genuinely raw you wouldn’t be surprised to notice and see him playing at mid-off shirtless holding a fish.

It’s the batsman still being allowed addressing the media, appearing as a cheerful animal in a waistcoat, expressing thoughts like we’re challenging norms. And yes, the atmosphere, for quite a long time, was uplifting.

3. Expansion Period

Growth phase. Cohesion maintained by rote learning of the cult’s slogans. These principles are often illogical to prove commitment.

Does anyone else feel? The backlash, the fury, the feeling of letdown after the first Ashes Test defeat feels overblown, too much. The performance was poor in Perth, as is typical there. They were torn apart in the field for a couple of hours as the bowling and captaincy fell apart, outplayed by the opponent imitating their style effectively, adaptive to conditions, an athlete shining with brilliance.

Now there is the attacks, the anger, the perception of the team as a disgrace. The consensus is that defeat must be total, they must be humbled, to be scoured, flame-throwered, overwhelmed via traditional methods of the pace attack, the simple basics of the veteran, out there celebrating successes modestly as if receiving a rewarding prize. How will they respond?

4. The Backlash Phase

Issues emerge from failures in the plan. Yet, mistakes are denied. It starts to feed on hatred of the outside world.

In truth, half a week out from the second Test, we have now reached a critical juncture in the journey of this thing. England could quite easily win in the next Test in a blur of adrenal disruption. Alternatively, they could lose just as quickly. Should they fail it appears we may see the death cult phase.

Prior to that, a couple of points to note on the topic. More than two years ago, during the initial excitement, of passion and hope, I wrote an article labeling it a movement. Criticism followed, which demonstrated as it’s known the best way of proving that it’s not a closed group is when its acolytes send hundreds of furiously one-eyed messages denying scrutiny of the beliefs.

Recent events recently is just as interesting. It seems that hating Bazball has turned into a movement. Social media is furious, angry English pundits, shots of angry middle-aged travelling fans disappointed by the short match, similar to people wanting fairness.

Conversely, we have the wider backdrop of the host’s complex more culturally hard-wired exasperation towards the unconventional visitors, out there saying, hey, that thing you love and have developed as one way of separating yourself culturally from us, well, it’s all a bit of a gag ultimately.

This is the core issue. Everything is a cult. Bazball was a cult because cricket is a cult. Or at least, the team has long been exclusive, a clique, a private event, an insular community with two hundred years of tradition and mystery defining it. It has long been where entry is limited. It’s the colonial game of the British, the early image-makers. And guess what, the country is a phenomenon, a series of esoteric hierarchies, a royal family remains.

England’s cricketers have been isolated within this world since childhood. In trying to escape from it, to create a less brutal environment, they are just repeating their own experience, creating another a bubble, an exclusive group, but now with a new team and a leader who wants you to be yourself if you fit the mold.

Focus on the moment. Confront risks. But no matter how fast and far you run, you’re always basically in the same place.

Considering this, it is perhaps the moment to show understanding for the approach, to appreciate its good points, that are numerous. What is Bazball? Promoting liberation. Questioning traditions. Batting aggressively|Attacking with