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The Journey of a Cult tends to be characterized by clear stages.

1. The Big Idea

A charismatic leader or figureheads propose a new and transcendent idea pledging a panacea for disconnected individuals.

So here we are. They’re getting ready to storm the compound down in Brisbane. The gunships are circling. Signs of trouble appear from the sidelines. A lone figure, exposed, nervous, the phrase ATTACKING MINDSET smeared across his chest as a statement, has come staggering through the lines and is removed in secrecy for a temporary assignment elsewhere.

Do you recall the early days, when everything was fresh? The days of Bazball 1.0, of uninhibited aggression.

2. Love-Bombing

Movement founders promise a reboot, hope for a future, love, success together who all believe in the big idea.

How did it feel initially? Just men on a balcony basking in glory. Ink. Strength. Jawlines. Confident masculinity. Oh sure, England’s players often say it’s not a real term, amusingly because if it doesn’t exist, what exactly did I just watch?

Yet it’s clear its essence. It’s Harry Brook playing a shot so unconventional it’s beyond belief. It’s the excitement of the leader in his final form, a look that says: thoughtful warrior, rugged appearance, hair woven from beaver hide, genuinely raw you half-expect to glance over and notice he’s fielding on the ground stripped to the waist holding a fish.

It’s Ben Duckett continuing to have permission speaking publicly, out there looking like a happy little woodland creature in a waistcoat, uttering phrases such as we’re challenging norms. And yes, the vibe, for quite a long time, was uplifting.

3. The Growth Phase

Development stage. Cohesion maintained through repetition of key phrases. These beliefs can appear contradictory to prove commitment.

Is it just me? The backlash, the anger, the sense of betrayal following the initial loss seems too strong, unwarranted. The performance was poor on the field, as is typical there. They were dominated defensively for a couple of hours as the bowling and captaincy fell apart, outplayed by Travis Head playing aggressively but smarter, adaptive to conditions, a performer excelling with a kind of light around him.

Now there is the attacks, the anger, the view of the sport as a kind of abomination. The opinion suggests that defeat must be total, they must be humbled, to be purged, obliterated, overwhelmed by the vengeful purity of the bowler’s action, the low-fi orthodoxies of the bowler, out there celebrating achievements humbly like he’s just been given a nice new fishing rod. What impact will this have?

4. The Backlash Phase

Challenges surface from failures in the plan. Yet, mistakes are denied. It starts to feed on hostility externally.

The fact remains, half a week out from the second Test, we’ve entered an intriguing moment in the lifespan of this approach. They might succeed in the next Test through aggressive play. Probably, failure may follow. In case of defeat it seems we may see the death cult phase.

Ahead of this, a couple of points to note about this. Previously, back in those heady early days, of light and heat, an piece was published suggesting Bazball was a cult. There was outrage, which proved the point as it’s known a method to show lack of cult status is should followers react defensively rejecting criticism of the philosophy.

The developments recently are fascinating. It seems that hating Bazball has now become the cult. Online outrage is widespread, disappointed commentators, pictures of upset travelling fans disappointed by the short match, like a room full of people wanting fairness.

Meanwhile, exists the larger scene of the host’s complex deep-seated frustration with the aggressive tourists, stating, hey, that thing you love and have honed as part of your identity from others, well, it’s all a bit of a gag ultimately.

And this is the real point. Everything is a cult. Bazball was a cult as the game has its own culture. In fact, English cricket has always been a cult, a circle, a private event, an insular community with centuries of opaque and ritualistic cult history defining it. It has long been a place where power and access are hoarded. It’s the British pastime of England, the pioneering brand. And notably, Britain is itself a cult, a series of esoteric hierarchies, a monarchy still exists.

The players have been sealed up in this environment for years. Seeking change, to build a better atmosphere, they are mirroring their own experience, creating another a bubble, an exclusive group, however with a new team and a coach promoting authenticity as long as yourself is quite a lot like myself.

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

With this mind, it might be appropriate to offer compassion for Bazball, to recognize its positives, which are significant. What does it represent? Encouraging expression. Questioning traditions. Batting aggressively|Attacking with