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The Evolution of a Cult tends to be characterized by specific steps.

1. The Core Concept

A charismatic leader or figureheads introduce a revolutionary approach offering a panacea for alienated and vulnerable people.

Thus we find ourselves. Plans are in motion to challenge the establishment in Australia. The gunships are circling. Smoke is rising from within. A lone figure, exposed, nervous, the phrase ATTACKING MINDSET smeared across his chest as a statement, has come staggering through the lines and is taken aside under a blanket to a different team in county cricket.

Do you ever miss the start, when the world was still young? The era of early Bazball, of Bazball without brains.

2. Initial Adoration

Team architects offer a new start, hope for a future, love, redemption within a community with shared faith in the big idea.

How did it feel at first? A team united enjoying success. Ink. Forearms. Determination. Peak performance vibes. Oh sure, England’s players often say they don’t use the label, amusingly as it’s denied, what exactly did I just watch?

Yet it’s clear what it is. It’s the batsman executing a stroke so outrageous it’s beyond belief. It’s the adrenaline of Ben Stokes in ultimate mode, a look that says: focused titan, strong features, hair woven from beaver hide, genuinely raw you almost imagine to look down and find him positioned in the field shirtless holding a fish.

It’s the batsman continuing to have permission to talk in press conferences, appearing as a cheerful animal smartly dressed, uttering phrases such as we are actively deconstructing the orange. And yes, the atmosphere, for quite a long time, was uplifting.

3. The Growth Phase

Development stage. Unity enforced via memorization of mantras. These ideas can appear contradictory to prove commitment.

Does anyone else feel? The backlash, the fury, the sense of betrayal following the initial loss appears excessive, too much. The batting collapsed on the field, as is typical there. They were savaged in the field for a couple of hours as the bowling and captaincy fell apart, outplayed by Travis Head playing aggressively but smarter, responsive to the situation, a performer excelling with a kind of light around him.

And now we have this the criticism, the rage, the sense of English Test cricket as a kind of abomination. The feeling seems to be that defeat must be total, they must be humbled, to be scoured, obliterated, defeated by the vengeful purity of Mitchell Starc’s movements, the simple basics of the bowler, out there celebrating his wickets humbly similar to getting a pleasant gift. What will this do to them?

4. The Backlash Phase

Challenges surface due to setbacks. But the cult cannot admit errors. It begins to thrive on anger towards critics.

Ultimately, approaching the upcoming game, we have now reached a delicious point of tension in the lifespan of this approach. England could quite easily win overseas with bold tactics. More likely, defeat could come swiftly. In case of defeat it appears we really might be entering the decline.

Prior to that, there are two things to note regarding this. More than two years ago, during the initial excitement, of light and heat, an piece was published suggesting Bazball was a cult. Criticism followed, which proved the point as it’s known the best way of proving lack of cult status is should followers respond with anger rejecting criticism of the philosophy.

The developments in the last few days are fascinating. Opposition to the style 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, like a room full of timeshare owners seeking justice.

On the other hand, there is the broader context of the host’s complex more culturally hard-wired exasperation towards the unconventional visitors, out there saying, hey, that thing you love and have fostered and nurtured as part of your identity from the opposition, well, it’s all a bit of a gag ultimately.

And this is the real point. Everything is a cult. The approach was a phenomenon as the game has its own culture. Or at least, the sport in England is closed, a circle, a garden party, an insular community with a long history of tradition and mystery supporting it. Historically, this was where entry is limited. It’s the imperial sport of the British, the pioneering brand. And surprisingly, the nation has its own culture, a structure of hidden ranks, a monarchy still exists.

The team have been sealed up in this system since childhood. Seeking change, to foster positivity, they are just repeating their past, creating another a bubble, an exclusive group, but doing it this time with a modern squad and a mentor encouraging individuality as long as yourself is quite a lot like myself.

Stay present. Confront risks. However much you change, you’re always basically in the same place.

Reflecting on this, now is the time to have some sympathy for Bazball, to appreciate its good points, that are numerous. What does it represent? Creating a sense of freedom. Defying norms. Batting aggressively|Attacking with