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The Journey of a Cult tends to be characterized by distinct phases.

1. The Grand Vision

An inspiring figure or leaders introduce a revolutionary approach pledging a cure for struggling players.

Thus we find ourselves. Plans are in motion to challenge the establishment in Australia. Tensions are rising. Signs of trouble appear from within. One individual, vulnerable, nervous, the words HIGH RELEASE POINT displayed prominently as a statement, has emerged into view and is taken aside in secrecy towards an inconclusive loan stint elsewhere.

Do you ever miss the early days, when everything was fresh? The days of Bazball 1.0, of pure instinct.

2. The Honeymoon Phase

Cult leaders offer a new start, hope for a future, support, redemption within a community united in belief in the big idea.

What was this thing at first? Players celebrating feeling good. Body art. Strength. Jawlines. Peak performance vibes. Of course, England’s players insist it’s not a real term, which is funny since it’s not recognized, what did we see?

However, everyone understands its essence. It’s the batsman playing a shot so outrageous it has to be pixelated. It’s the excitement of the captain in his final form, an expression conveying: pensive Nordic god, beard made of wood, untamed style, truly contemporary you almost imagine to look down and notice he’s fielding on the ground bare-chested embracing nature.

It’s the batsman still being allowed to talk in press conferences, appearing as a cheerful animal smartly dressed, uttering phrases such as we’re breaking down traditions. Indeed, the energy, for quite a long time, was uplifting.

3. Expansion Period

Development stage. Togetherness strengthened via memorization of the cult’s slogans. These ideas are often illogical as a loyalty check.

Is it just me? The reaction, the anger, the feeling of letdown following the initial loss seems too strong, overdone. The performance was poor during the match, as they often do in Australia. They were dominated in the field during a brief period as plans unraveled, outplayed by the batsman imitating their style effectively, adaptive to conditions, a man playing with a kind of light around him.

Now there is the criticism, the frustration, the view of the sport as a failure. The feeling seems to be that defeat must be total, they must be humbled, to be scoured, destroyed, overwhelmed via traditional methods of Mitchell Starc’s movements, the simple basics of the bowler, seen enjoying successes modestly like he’s just been given a nice new fishing rod. How will they respond?

4. The Backlash Phase

Problems arise from failures in the plan. However, faults are ignored. It starts to feed on hostility externally.

Ultimately, a few days before from the second Test, we’ve entered a critical juncture in the story of this movement. England could quite easily win in Brisbane in a blur of adrenal disruption. Probably, they could lose just as quickly. And if they do lose it seems we really might be entering the final stage.

Before that happens, several aspects worth saying on the topic. In the past, back in those heady early days, 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 that it’s not a closed group is if supporters react defensively denying scrutiny of its truths.

The developments in the last few days is just as interesting. It seems that hating Bazball is now the trend. Social media is furious, disappointed commentators, images of frustrated followers overseas missing out on play, like a room full of people wanting fairness.

Meanwhile, we have the wider backdrop of Australia’s more nuanced deep-seated frustration at these weirdly passive-aggressive buccaneers, out there saying, hey, that thing you love and have developed as part of your identity from others, it’s just a joke ultimately.

And this is the real point. Everything is a cult. Bazball was a cult because cricket is a cult. Or rather, English cricket has always been a cult, a circle, a private event, an insular community with centuries of opaque and ritualistic cult history behind it. It has long been where influence is guarded. It’s the colonial game of the nation, the pioneering brand. And notably, the country is a phenomenon, a system of unknown levels, a royal family remains.

England’s cricketers have been enclosed in this environment from a young age. Seeking change, to foster positivity, they are just repeating their upbringing, building another enclosure, a closed circle, but doing it this time with a modern squad and a mentor promoting authenticity as long as yourself is quite a lot like myself.

Live where your feet are. Embrace challenges. Despite efforts, things stay similar.

With this mind, now is the time to show understanding for the movement, to acknowledge its merits, which are significant. How to define it? Creating a sense of freedom. Questioning traditions. Batting aggressively|Attacking with