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The Life Cycle of a Cult is often marked by clear stages.

1. The Core Concept

An inspiring figure or figureheads present an innovative concept that promises a panacea for disconnected individuals.

And so it goes. Plans are in motion to confront the system overseas. The gunships are circling. Conflict emerges from the sidelines. A lone figure, naked, shivering, the words HIGH RELEASE POINT written on his body in chicken blood, has come staggering through the lines and is taken aside under a blanket to a different team elsewhere.

Do you recall the start, when everything was fresh? The days of Bazball 1.0, of pure instinct.

2. Love-Bombing

Cult leaders guarantee a reboot, optimism ahead, support, salvation among a group with shared faith in the big idea.

What was this thing initially? A team united feeling good. Tattoos. Forearms. Determination. Confident masculinity. Oh sure, England’s players insist it’s not a real term, which is funny since it’s not recognized, what exactly did I just watch?

Yet it’s clear the concept. It’s Harry Brook attempting a move so unconventional it’s beyond belief. It’s the excitement of the captain at his peak, an expression conveying: thoughtful warrior, strong features, untamed style, so authentically Modern Savage you wouldn’t be surprised to glance over and see him playing in the field stripped to the waist embracing nature.

It’s Ben Duckett 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 vibe, for a significant period, was entirely positive.

3. The Growth Phase

Development stage. Togetherness strengthened via memorization of mantras. These ideas can appear contradictory as a test of “true belief”.

Does anyone else feel? The criticism, the outrage, the disappointment post-defeat appears excessive, overdone. England batted badly in Perth, as is typical there. They were dominated in the field in a short span as the bowling and captaincy fell apart, manipulated by the batsman batting like England but better, responsive to the situation, a man playing 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 should be dismantled, to be scoured, destroyed, defeated by the vengeful purity of the pace attack, the simple basics of the bowler, seen enjoying achievements modestly as if receiving a pleasant gift. What impact will this have?

4. The Backlash Phase

Issues emerge due to setbacks. Yet, mistakes are denied. It turns to hostility externally.

In truth, approaching from the second Test, we are at a delicious point of tension in the story of this movement. Victory is possible in Brisbane through aggressive play. Probably, they could lose just as quickly. In case of defeat it seems we could be witnessing the decline.

Prior to that, several aspects to note regarding this. More than two years ago, during the initial excitement, of optimism and energy, I wrote an article calling it a phenomenon. Criticism followed, which was helpful as it’s known a method to show something definitely isn’t a cult is should followers react defensively objecting to the questioning of the philosophy.

The developments in the last few days are equally notable. Criticism of the approach has turned into a movement. We have a uniformly angry internet, disappointed commentators, pictures of upset followers overseas missing out on play, similar to timeshare owners seeking justice.

Conversely, we have the wider backdrop of Australia’s more nuanced more culturally hard-wired exasperation at these weirdly passive-aggressive buccaneers, out there saying, your cherished traditions and have developed as one way of separating yourself culturally from us, it’s not serious in the end old boy.

Here lies the truth. Everything is a cult. 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 restricted environment with centuries of opaque and ritualistic cult history behind it. It has long been where entry is limited. It’s the colonial game of the British, the original sports washers. And notably, the nation has its own culture, a system of unknown levels, a monarchy still exists.

England’s cricketers have been isolated in this system for years. In trying to escape from it, to build a better atmosphere, they are simply replicating their own experience, forming a new circle, a closed circle, but now with 15 cool guys and a leader encouraging individuality provided you conform.

Focus on the moment. Embrace challenges. But no matter how fast and far you run, you remain stuck.

Considering this, it might be appropriate to have some sympathy for Bazball, to recognize its positives, that are numerous. How to define it? Creating a sense of freedom. Challenging orthodoxies. Batting aggressively|Attacking with