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The Life Cycle of a Cult tends to be defined by distinct phases.

1. The Grand Vision

A dominant personality or leaders propose an innovative concept that promises a panacea for struggling players.

Thus we find ourselves. Preparations are underway to confront the system down in Brisbane. The gunships are circling. Signs of trouble appear from the sidelines. One individual, vulnerable, nervous, the phrase ATTACKING MINDSET smeared across his chest as a symbol, has emerged through the lines and is being led away in secrecy to a different team at Derbyshire.

Do you recall the beginning, when the world was still young? The initial phase, of uninhibited aggression.

2. The Honeymoon Phase

Cult leaders promise a fresh beginning, optimism ahead, camaraderie, redemption together who all believe in the philosophy.

How did it feel back then? Players celebrating basking in glory. Ink. Forearms. Focus. Peak performance vibes. Admittedly, England’s players often say it’s not a real term, ironically since it’s not recognized, what exactly did I just watch?

But we know what it is. It’s Harry Brook attempting a move so depraved it has to be pixelated. It’s the excitement of the leader in his final form, an expression conveying: focused titan, strong features, hair woven from beaver hide, genuinely raw you almost imagine to glance over and find him positioned at mid-off stripped to the waist holding a fish.

It’s Ben Duckett still being allowed speaking publicly, resembling a happy little woodland creature smartly dressed, saying stuff like we’re breaking down traditions. Certainly, the energy, for a significant period, was entirely positive.

3. Expansion Period

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

Is it just me? The criticism, the outrage, the feeling of letdown post-defeat seems too strong, unwarranted. The batting collapsed in Perth, as they often do in Australia. They were torn apart while bowling in a short span as the bowling and captaincy fell apart, outplayed by the opponent imitating their style effectively, adaptive to conditions, a performer excelling with brilliance.

Now there is the attacks, the anger, the sense of English Test cricket as a disgrace. The opinion suggests that England don’t just need to lose, they should be dismantled, to be scoured, flame-throwered, defeated by the vengeful purity of the bowler’s action, the low-fi orthodoxies of the veteran, out there celebrating achievements humbly similar to getting a rewarding prize. How will they respond?

4. The Backlash Phase

Challenges surface due to setbacks. However, faults are ignored. It starts to feed on hatred of the outside world.

The fact remains, a few days before the upcoming game, we’ve entered an intriguing moment in the journey of this approach. England could quite easily win in the next Test through aggressive play. Alternatively, they could lose just as quickly. In case of defeat it appears we really might be entering the death cult phase.

Ahead of this, a couple of points to consider about this. More than two years ago, during the initial excitement, of optimism and energy, an piece was published labeling it a movement. Criticism followed, which was helpful because everyone knows the best way of proving something definitely isn’t a cult is should followers react defensively rejecting criticism of the philosophy.

Recent events lately are equally notable. Criticism of the approach has now become the cult. We have a uniformly angry internet, angry English pundits, pictures of upset supporters abroad disappointed by the short match, like a room full of people wanting fairness.

On the other hand, there is the broader context of Australia’s more nuanced more culturally hard-wired exasperation with the aggressive tourists, out there saying, your cherished traditions and have fostered and nurtured as part of your identity culturally from us, it’s not serious ultimately.

And this is the real point. All movements are similar. The approach was a phenomenon as the game has its own culture. Or at least, English cricket has always been a cult, a clique, an elite gathering, an insular community with a long history of ceremonial past behind it. Historically, this was where influence is guarded. It’s the imperial sport of England, the early image-makers. And notably, the nation has its own culture, a system of unknown levels, a place that literally still has a king.

The team have been sealed up within this world from a young age. Attempting to break free, to build a better atmosphere, they are mirroring their own experience, forming a new circle, a closed circle, however with 15 cool guys and a coach who wants you to be yourself as long as yourself is quite a lot like myself.

Focus on the moment. Confront risks. But no matter how fast and far you run, you remain stuck.

Reflecting on this, it might be appropriate to have some sympathy for Bazball, to appreciate its good points, that are numerous. What is Bazball? Creating a sense of freedom. Questioning traditions. Batting aggressively|Attacking with