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

1. The Grand Vision

An inspiring figure or coaches present an innovative concept that promises a panacea for alienated and vulnerable people.

And so it goes. Preparations are underway to confront the system down in Brisbane. Pressure is mounting. Conflict emerges from the sidelines. A lone figure, naked, nervous, the phrase ATTACKING MINDSET displayed prominently as a statement, has emerged from the field and is being led away under a blanket towards an inconclusive loan stint at Derbyshire.

Do you ever miss the beginning, when optimism reigned? The initial phase, of uninhibited aggression.

2. The Honeymoon Phase

Cult leaders guarantee a reboot, a brighter tomorrow, camaraderie, salvation within a community who all believe in the big idea.

What was this thing at first? Just men on a balcony feeling good. Ink. Strength. Jawlines. Peak performance vibes. Oh sure, England’s players will claim Bazball doesn’t actually exist, amusingly since it’s not recognized, what was that spectacle?

Yet it’s clear what it is. It’s Harry Brook playing a shot so depraved it defies description. It’s the adrenaline of the leader in ultimate mode, an expression conveying: pensive Nordic god, strong features, untamed style, truly contemporary you almost imagine to notice and find him positioned in the field shirtless embracing nature.

It’s Ben Duckett continuing to have permission to talk in press conferences, out there looking like a joyful figure formally attired, saying stuff like we’re challenging norms. And yes, the vibe, for a significant period, was only good energy.

3. A New Life

Growth phase. Unity enforced via memorization of the cult’s slogans. These principles are often illogical to prove commitment.

Does anyone else feel? The reaction, the outrage, the feeling of letdown after the first Ashes Test defeat appears excessive, overdone. The batting collapsed in Perth, as they often do in Australia. They were dominated in the field for a couple of hours when tactics failed, carved around by the batsman batting like England but better, responsive to the situation, a performer excelling with a kind of light around him.

Now there is the attacks, the anger, the view of the sport as a kind of abomination. The consensus is that losing isn’t enough, they need to lose righteously, to be cleansed, destroyed, defeated via traditional methods of Mitchell Starc’s movements, the low-fi orthodoxies of Scott Boland, seen enjoying achievements with a bashful smile as if receiving a nice new fishing rod. How will they respond?

4. The Backlash Phase

Problems arise due to setbacks. But the cult cannot admit errors. It begins to thrive on hatred of the outside world.

The fact remains, approaching the upcoming game, we have now reached a delicious point of tension in the journey of this thing. Victory is possible overseas with bold tactics. More likely, they could lose just as quickly. And if they do lose it seems we could be witnessing the decline.

Ahead of this, there are two things to consider about this. Previously, back in those heady early days, of passion and hope, I wrote an article suggesting Bazball was a cult. People were very angry, which demonstrated because everyone knows the best way of proving lack of cult status is when its acolytes react defensively rejecting criticism of the philosophy.

What has happened lately are fascinating. Opposition to the style has turned into a movement. We have a uniformly angry internet, critical analysts, images of frustrated travelling fans missing out on play, reminiscent of investors demanding recourse.

Meanwhile, exists the larger scene of Australia’s more nuanced deep-seated frustration with the aggressive tourists, out there saying, hey, that thing you love and have fostered and nurtured as part of your identity culturally from us, it’s not serious after all.

Here lies the truth. All movements are similar. The style was a trend as the game has its own culture. Or at least, the sport in England is closed, a group, a private event, an insular community with a long history of ceremonial past defining it. Historically, this was where influence is guarded. It’s the colonial game of England, the original sports washers. And notably, the country is a phenomenon, a series of esoteric hierarchies, a royal family remains.

The players have been sealed up in this environment since childhood. In trying to escape from it, to create a less brutal environment, they are mirroring their own experience, forming a new circle, an exclusive group, but now with 15 cool guys and a leader promoting authenticity 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.

With this mind, it might be appropriate to show understanding for Bazball, to acknowledge its merits, that are numerous. What does it represent? Promoting liberation. Questioning traditions. Batting aggressively|Attacking with