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The Evolution of a Cult can be defined by clear stages.

1. The Big Idea

A charismatic leader or coaches propose a new and transcendent idea pledging a solution for struggling players.

Thus we find ourselves. They’re getting ready to storm the compound in Australia. The gunships are circling. Signs of trouble appear from within. An isolated player, naked, nervous, the slogan POSITIVE INTENT written on his body as a symbol, has come staggering into view and is being led away with discretion for a temporary assignment elsewhere.

Do you ever miss the beginning, when the world was still young? The days of Bazball 1.0, of Bazball without brains.

2. Love-Bombing

Team architects guarantee a reboot, hope for a future, camaraderie, salvation among a group united in belief in the big idea.

What was this thing at first? Players celebrating feeling good. Tattoos. Forearms. Determination. Elite male wellness energy. Admittedly, England’s players often say Bazball doesn’t actually exist, amusingly because if it doesn’t exist, what was that spectacle?

However, everyone understands its essence. It’s the player attempting a move so depraved it’s beyond belief. It’s the excitement of the captain at his peak, a look that says: thoughtful warrior, strong features, hair woven from beaver hide, so authentically Modern Savage you wouldn’t be surprised to glance over and see him playing on the ground bare-chested embracing nature.

It’s the opener often seen to talk in press conferences, appearing as a joyful figure formally attired, uttering phrases such as we’re challenging norms. Certainly, the vibe, initially, was entirely positive.

3. Expansion Period

Development stage. Togetherness strengthened by rote learning of key phrases. These beliefs are often illogical as a test of “true belief”.

Is it just me? The criticism, the outrage, the sense of betrayal following the initial loss appears excessive, too much. The batting collapsed during the match, as they often do in Australia. They were torn apart defensively for a couple of hours as plans unraveled, carved around by Travis Head batting like England but better, adaptive to conditions, a man playing with brilliance.

Now there is the pile-on, the frustration, the perception of the team as a kind of abomination. The feeling seems to be that losing isn’t enough, they need to lose righteously, to be scoured, flame-throwered, overwhelmed by the vengeful purity of the bowler’s action, the conventional tactics of the bowler, marking his wickets modestly similar to getting a nice new fishing rod. What impact will this have?

4. The Backlash Phase

Problems arise because of mistakes. But the cult cannot admit errors. It starts to feed on anger towards critics.

The fact remains, approaching the next match, we have now reached a critical juncture in the journey of this approach. England could quite easily win overseas through aggressive play. More likely, they could lose just as quickly. Should they fail it seems we could be witnessing the death cult phase.

Ahead of this, several aspects worth saying on the topic. Previously, during the initial excitement, of passion and hope, I wrote an article calling it a phenomenon. People were very angry, which proved the point since it’s clear how to confirm something definitely isn’t a cult is should followers respond with anger denying scrutiny of the philosophy.

What has happened lately is just as interesting. It seems that hating Bazball has turned into a movement. Social media is furious, disappointed commentators, shots of angry middle-aged travelling fans disappointed by the short match, similar to timeshare owners seeking justice.

Meanwhile, exists the larger scene of the opponent’s mixed ingrained annoyance with the aggressive tourists, claiming, the methods you value and have developed to distinguish yourselves 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 rather, the sport in England is closed, a clique, a private event, an insular community with two hundred years of ceremonial past supporting it. It has long been where entry is limited. It’s the colonial game of the nation, the early image-makers. And surprisingly, Britain is itself a cult, a system of unknown levels, a royal family remains.

England’s cricketers have been isolated in this environment for years. In trying to escape from it, to build a better atmosphere, they are just repeating their own experience, building another enclosure, a closed circle, but doing it this time with a new team and a mentor encouraging individuality provided you conform.

Stay present. Run towards the danger. But no matter how fast and far you run, things stay similar.

Considering this, it is perhaps the moment to have some sympathy for Bazball, to acknowledge its merits, of which there are many. What is Bazball? Promoting liberation. Questioning traditions. Batting aggressively|Attacking with