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The Journey of a Cult is often characterized by clear stages.

1. The Core Concept

A dominant personality or leaders propose an innovative concept that promises a panacea for disconnected individuals.

And so it goes. Plans are in motion to storm the compound down in Brisbane. Tensions are rising. Conflict emerges from within. An isolated player, exposed, anxious, the phrase ATTACKING MINDSET smeared across his chest in chicken blood, has emerged into view and is being led away in secrecy for a temporary assignment at Derbyshire.

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

2. The Honeymoon Phase

Team architects promise a new start, hope for a future, camaraderie, salvation among a group with shared faith in the method.

What did it represent initially? Just men on a balcony basking in glory. Body art. Forearms. Determination. Elite male wellness energy. Of course, The squad insist they don’t use the label, amusingly because if it doesn’t exist, what exactly did I just watch?

But we know the concept. It’s the player playing a shot so depraved it has to be pixelated. It’s the thrill of Ben Stokes at his peak, a look that says: thoughtful warrior, rugged appearance, natural look, truly contemporary you wouldn’t be surprised to glance over and see him playing at mid-off shirtless embracing nature.

It’s Ben Duckett often seen speaking publicly, out there looking like a joyful figure formally attired, saying stuff like we are actively deconstructing the orange. And yes, the atmosphere, initially, was only good energy.

3. Expansion Period

Building period. Togetherness strengthened through repetition of key phrases. These beliefs can appear contradictory as a loyalty check.

Is it just me? The backlash, the outrage, the disappointment after the first Ashes Test defeat feels overblown, overdone. England batted badly 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 the batsman batting like England but better, adjusting to the pitch, a performer excelling with brilliance.

Now there is the pile-on, the anger, the sense of English Test cricket as a kind of abomination. The opinion suggests that losing isn’t enough, they need to lose righteously, to be purged, flame-throwered, overwhelmed through sheer skill of the bowler’s action, the simple basics of Scott Boland, seen enjoying achievements modestly like he’s just been given a nice new fishing rod. What will this do to them?

4. External Conflict

Issues emerge due to setbacks. However, faults are ignored. It turns to anger towards critics.

The fact remains, a few days before from the second Test, we have now reached a delicious point of tension in the story of this thing. They might succeed in the next Test in a blur of adrenal disruption. More likely, they could lose just as quickly. In case of defeat it appears we could be witnessing the decline.

Before that happens, there are two things to note regarding this. More than two years ago, at the start, of light and heat, an piece was published calling it a phenomenon. There was outrage, which proved the point since it’s clear a method to show something definitely isn’t a cult is if supporters respond with anger denying scrutiny of the philosophy.

What has happened lately are fascinating. Criticism of the approach is now the trend. Social media is furious, angry English pundits, shots of angry middle-aged followers overseas cheated out of three days of cricket, similar to people wanting fairness.

Meanwhile, there is the broader context of the opponent’s mixed deep-seated frustration with the aggressive tourists, claiming, hey, that thing you love and have honed as one way of separating yourself from the opposition, well, it’s all a bit of a gag in the end old boy.

Here lies the truth. All movements are similar. The style was a trend because cricket is a cult. Or at least, the team has long been exclusive, a clique, a private event, a restricted environment 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 guess what, the nation has its own culture, a system of unknown levels, a monarchy still exists.

England’s cricketers have been isolated in this system for years. Seeking change, to create a less brutal environment, they are just repeating their upbringing, building another enclosure, a limited community, however with a new team and a coach encouraging individuality provided you conform.

Focus on the moment. Confront risks. Despite efforts, you’re always basically in the same place.

With this mind, it might be appropriate to offer compassion for the movement, to recognize its positives, which are significant. What is Bazball? Promoting liberation. Challenging orthodoxies. Batting aggressively|Attacking with