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

1. The Grand Vision

A charismatic leader or leaders introduce a new and transcendent idea pledging a cure for disconnected individuals.

So here we are. Plans are in motion to storm the compound down in Brisbane. The gunships are circling. Signs of trouble appear from the out-houses. An isolated player, vulnerable, shivering, the phrase ATTACKING MINDSET smeared across his chest as a statement, has come staggering through the lines and is being led away under a blanket for a temporary assignment elsewhere.

Do you ever miss the early days, when optimism reigned? The days of Bazball 1.0, of uninhibited aggression.

2. Initial Adoration

Team architects promise a reboot, hope for a future, support, redemption within a community with shared faith in the big idea.

How did it feel at first? Players celebrating basking in glory. Body art. Strength. Jawlines. Confident masculinity. Of course, The team will claim they don’t use the label, which is funny as it’s denied, what was that spectacle?

But we know what it is. It’s Harry Brook attempting a move so unconventional it defies description. It’s the thrill of Ben Stokes in ultimate mode, an expression conveying: pensive Nordic god, rugged appearance, untamed style, truly contemporary you half-expect to notice and see him playing in the field stripped to the waist and cradling a wild salmon.

It’s Ben Duckett continuing to have permission addressing the media, out there looking like a cheerful animal formally attired, saying stuff like we’re challenging norms. Indeed, the atmosphere, initially, was uplifting.

3. The Growth Phase

Building period. Togetherness strengthened by rote learning of mantras. These principles can appear contradictory as a test of “true belief”.

Am I alone? The reaction, the fury, the disappointment post-defeat feels overblown, too much. England batted badly on the field, as they often do in Australia. They were savaged while bowling for a couple of hours as plans unraveled, outplayed by Travis Head playing aggressively but smarter, adaptive to conditions, a man playing with aura.

And now we have this the pile-on, the rage, the sense of English Test cricket as a failure. The opinion suggests that losing isn’t enough, they need to lose righteously, to be purged, flame-throwered, overwhelmed by the vengeful purity of the pace attack, the simple basics of the veteran, out there celebrating successes humbly like he’s just been given a nice new fishing rod. What will this do to them?

4. The Backlash Phase

Problems arise from failures in the plan. But the cult cannot admit errors. It turns to hostility externally.

The fact remains, a few days before the upcoming game, we are at a delicious point of tension in the lifespan of this movement. Victory is possible overseas through aggressive play. More likely, defeat could come swiftly. And if they do lose it feels like we may see the death cult phase.

Before that happens, there are two things worth saying about this. More than two years ago, back in those heady early days, of passion and hope, I wrote an article labeling it a movement. There was outrage, which proved the point since it’s clear the best way of proving that it’s not a closed group is if supporters send hundreds of furiously one-eyed messages objecting to the questioning of the beliefs.

The developments in the last few days are equally notable. Opposition to the style is now the trend. We have a uniformly angry internet, angry English pundits, images of frustrated followers overseas missing out on play, reminiscent of timeshare owners seeking justice.

On the other hand, there is the broader context of Australia’s more nuanced more culturally hard-wired exasperation towards the unconventional visitors, stating, your cherished traditions and have developed as part of your identity from others, well, it’s all a bit of a gag after all.

This is the core issue. It’s all cults. The style was a trend since the sport itself is insular. Or at least, the sport in England is closed, a circle, a private event, a restricted environment with centuries of tradition and mystery supporting it. Historically, this was where influence is guarded. It’s the colonial game of the British, the original sports washers. And notably, Britain is itself a cult, a series of esoteric hierarchies, a monarchy still exists.

The team have been isolated in this system since childhood. In trying to escape from it, to build a better atmosphere, they are simply replicating their upbringing, forming a new circle, an exclusive group, however with 15 cool guys and a mentor encouraging individuality as long as yourself is quite a lot like myself.

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

Reflecting on this, now is the time to show understanding for the movement, to appreciate its good points, which are significant. What is Bazball? Creating a sense of freedom. Challenging orthodoxies. Batting aggressively|Attacking with