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

1. The Big Idea

A charismatic leader or leaders present a new and transcendent idea pledging a panacea for struggling players.

Thus we find ourselves. Plans are in motion to storm the compound in Australia. Tensions are rising. Smoke is rising from within. A lone figure, exposed, anxious, the phrase ATTACKING MINDSET written on his body in chicken blood, has come staggering through the lines and is being led away with discretion for a temporary assignment at Derbyshire.

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

2. The Honeymoon Phase

Movement founders promise a new start, hope for a future, love, redemption together united in belief in the philosophy.

What was this thing initially? Players celebrating feeling good. Tattoos. Muscles. Jawlines. Peak performance vibes. Of course, England’s players often say Bazball doesn’t actually exist, ironically because if it doesn’t exist, what exactly did I just watch?

But we know its essence. It’s the player executing a stroke so outrageous it’s beyond belief. It’s the adrenaline of Ben Stokes in his final form, an expression conveying: focused titan, rugged appearance, untamed style, truly contemporary you half-expect to look down and see him playing in the field shirtless embracing nature.

It’s Ben Duckett still being allowed speaking publicly, resembling a cheerful animal smartly dressed, expressing thoughts like we are actively deconstructing the orange. Certainly, the vibe, initially, was uplifting.

3. Expansion Period

Growth phase. Togetherness strengthened by rote learning of the cult’s slogans. These beliefs are often illogical as a test of “true belief”.

Am I alone? The reaction, the outrage, the sense of betrayal after the first Ashes Test defeat appears excessive, overdone. The batting collapsed in Perth, as is typical there. They were torn apart in the field in a short span as plans unraveled, outplayed by the opponent batting like England but better, responsive to the situation, an athlete shining with aura.

And now we have this the pile-on, the frustration, the view of the sport as a disgrace. The opinion suggests that defeat must be total, they must be humbled, to be scoured, obliterated, destroyed through sheer skill of the bowler’s action, the low-fi orthodoxies of the veteran, out there celebrating achievements with a bashful smile as if receiving a pleasant gift. What will this do to them?

4. Hate Bonding

Issues emerge from failures in the plan. Yet, mistakes are denied. It turns to hatred of the outside world.

Ultimately, half a week out the upcoming game, we’ve entered an intriguing moment in the lifespan of this movement. Victory is possible in Brisbane with bold tactics. Alternatively, they could lose just as quickly. Should they fail it seems we really might be entering the final stage.

Before that happens, there are two things to note regarding this. Previously, back in those heady early days, of light and heat, an piece was published calling it a phenomenon. There was outrage, which proved the point since it’s clear the best way of proving something definitely isn’t a cult is when its acolytes react defensively objecting to the questioning of its truths.

The developments recently are fascinating. It seems that hating Bazball is now the trend. Social media is furious, disappointed commentators, images of frustrated supporters abroad cheated out of three days of cricket, like a room full of timeshare owners seeking justice.

On the other hand, we have the wider backdrop of the host’s complex deep-seated frustration towards the unconventional visitors, out there saying, the methods you value and have developed to distinguish yourselves from others, it’s not serious ultimately.

Here lies the truth. It’s all cults. The approach was a phenomenon since the sport itself is insular. Or rather, English cricket has always been a cult, a group, a garden party, a closed world with centuries of opaque and ritualistic cult history defining it. Historically, this was where influence is guarded. It’s the colonial game of the nation, the early image-makers. And notably, the country is a phenomenon, a series of esoteric hierarchies, a monarchy still exists.

The players have been sealed up in this environment for years. In trying to escape from it, to build a better atmosphere, they are mirroring their own experience, forming a new circle, a limited community, however with a new team and a coach who wants you to be yourself provided you conform.

Stay present. Embrace challenges. But no matter how fast and far you run, you remain stuck.

Reflecting on this, now is the time to show understanding for the movement, to acknowledge its merits, that are numerous. What is Bazball? Promoting liberation. Challenging orthodoxies. Batting aggressively|Attacking with