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

1. The Big Idea

A charismatic leader or coaches introduce a revolutionary approach offering a panacea for disconnected individuals.

And so it goes. They’re getting ready to confront the system down in Brisbane. The gunships are circling. Signs of trouble appear from the out-houses. One individual, naked, nervous, the phrase ATTACKING MINDSET smeared across his chest as a statement, has emerged through the lines and is removed in secrecy for a temporary assignment elsewhere.

Do you recall the beginning, when everything was fresh? The initial phase, of Bazball without brains.

2. Love-Bombing

Cult leaders offer a new start, hope for a future, camaraderie, redemption together who all believe in the method.

What did it represent back then? Players celebrating feeling good. Body art. Muscles. Jawlines. Peak performance vibes. Of course, The squad often say it’s not a real term, amusingly because if it doesn’t exist, what did we see?

However, everyone understands its essence. It’s the batsman playing a shot so unconventional it’s beyond belief. It’s the adrenaline of the leader in his final form, an expression conveying: pensive Nordic god, strong features, natural look, genuinely raw you half-expect to notice and see him playing on the ground bare-chested and cradling a wild salmon.

It’s Ben Duckett often seen addressing the media, resembling a joyful figure formally attired, saying stuff like we’re breaking down traditions. Certainly, the vibe, for quite a long time, was uplifting.

3. The Growth Phase

Building period. Unity enforced by rote learning of the cult’s slogans. These principles may seem irrational as a loyalty check.

Does anyone else feel? The criticism, the outrage, the feeling of letdown post-defeat appears excessive, overdone. England batted badly on the field, as history shows. They were torn apart defensively for a couple of hours as the bowling and captaincy fell apart, outplayed by the opponent imitating their style effectively, adaptive to conditions, a man playing with brilliance.

Now there is the pile-on, the frustration, the perception of the team as a disgrace. The feeling seems to be that defeat must be total, they should be dismantled, to be scoured, destroyed, overwhelmed through sheer skill of the bowler’s action, the conventional tactics of the bowler, out there celebrating achievements with a bashful smile like he’s just been given a rewarding prize. How will they respond?

4. External Conflict

Challenges surface due to setbacks. However, faults are ignored. It turns to anger towards critics.

In truth, half a week out the next match, we’ve entered a critical juncture in the lifespan of this approach. Victory is possible overseas with bold tactics. Alternatively, failure may follow. Should they fail it appears we may see the death cult phase.

Ahead of this, there are two things to consider regarding this. More than two years ago, at the start, of light and heat, I wrote an article suggesting Bazball was a cult. There was outrage, which proved the point as it’s known how to confirm lack of cult status is if supporters send hundreds of furiously one-eyed messages rejecting criticism of its truths.

Recent events lately are fascinating. It seems that hating Bazball has turned into a movement. Social media is furious, critical analysts, images of frustrated travelling fans cheated out of three days of cricket, similar to investors demanding recourse.

Meanwhile, exists the larger scene of the host’s complex more culturally hard-wired exasperation at these weirdly passive-aggressive buccaneers, stating, hey, that thing you love and have developed as one way of separating yourself from others, well, it’s all a bit of a gag after all.

Here lies the truth. All movements are similar. The approach was a phenomenon since the sport itself is insular. Or at least, the sport in England is closed, a clique, an elite gathering, a closed world with two hundred years of opaque and ritualistic cult history behind it. Historically, this was where influence is guarded. It’s the British pastime of England, the early image-makers. And surprisingly, Britain is itself a cult, a system of unknown levels, a place that literally still has a king.

England’s cricketers have been sealed up in this system for years. Seeking change, to create a less brutal environment, they are simply replicating their past, forming a new circle, an exclusive group, however with 15 cool guys and a coach encouraging individuality as long as yourself is quite a lot like myself.

Live where your feet are. Run towards the danger. Despite efforts, you’re always basically in the same place.

With this mind, now is the time to offer compassion for the movement, to acknowledge its merits, that are numerous. What does it represent? Encouraging expression. Questioning traditions. Batting aggressively|Attacking with