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The Journey of a Cult tends to be marked by specific steps.

1. The Core Concept

A charismatic leader or figureheads propose a new and transcendent idea pledging a panacea for struggling players.

Thus we find ourselves. Plans are in motion to storm the compound overseas. Pressure is mounting. Smoke is rising from within. A lone figure, vulnerable, nervous, the slogan POSITIVE INTENT displayed prominently as a statement, has come staggering into view and is being led away with discretion for a temporary assignment elsewhere.

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

2. Initial Adoration

Movement founders offer a reboot, a brighter tomorrow, camaraderie, redemption within a community united in belief in the big idea.

What was this thing initially? Players celebrating feeling good. Tattoos. Muscles. Focus. Elite male wellness energy. Of course, England’s players insist they don’t use the label, which is funny as it’s denied, what did we see?

But we know its essence. It’s the batsman attempting a move so outrageous it defies description. It’s the adrenaline of the captain in ultimate mode, an expression conveying: focused titan, rugged appearance, natural look, genuinely raw you wouldn’t be surprised to glance over and notice he’s fielding in the field bare-chested and cradling a wild salmon.

It’s the batsman continuing to have permission addressing the media, resembling a cheerful animal in a waistcoat, saying stuff like we’re challenging norms. And yes, the vibe, for quite a long time, was uplifting.

3. Expansion Period

Growth phase. Togetherness strengthened through repetition of mantras. These beliefs may seem irrational to prove commitment.

Is it just me? The backlash, the anger, the feeling of letdown post-defeat seems too strong, too much. The batting collapsed during the match, as they often do in Australia. They were torn apart while bowling in a short span as plans unraveled, outplayed by the batsman imitating their style effectively, adjusting to the pitch, a man playing with brilliance.

And now we have this the pile-on, the anger, the sense of English Test cricket as a kind of abomination. The opinion suggests that England don’t just need to lose, they must be humbled, to be cleansed, flame-throwered, defeated by the vengeful purity of the bowler’s action, the conventional tactics of the veteran, out there celebrating his wickets humbly as if receiving a rewarding prize. What will this do to them?

4. The Backlash Phase

Problems arise because of mistakes. However, faults are ignored. It begins to thrive on anger towards critics.

Ultimately, approaching the next match, we’ve entered a critical juncture in the journey of this approach. They might succeed overseas through aggressive play. Probably, defeat could come swiftly. And if they do lose it feels like we could be witnessing the final stage.

Before that happens, a couple of points to consider regarding this. In the past, at the start, of optimism and energy, I wrote an article suggesting Bazball was a cult. People were very angry, which proved the point because everyone knows a method to show lack of cult status is should followers send hundreds of furiously one-eyed messages rejecting criticism of the beliefs.

Recent events lately is just as interesting. Opposition to the style has turned into a movement. We have a uniformly angry internet, angry English pundits, pictures of upset travelling fans disappointed by the short match, reminiscent of investors demanding recourse.

Meanwhile, there is the broader context of the opponent’s mixed ingrained annoyance with the aggressive tourists, out there saying, the methods you value and have fostered and nurtured as one way of separating yourself from the opposition, well, it’s all a bit of a gag after all.

And this is the real point. It’s all cults. Bazball was a cult because cricket is a cult. Or at least, the team has long been exclusive, a circle, an elite gathering, a restricted environment with two hundred years of tradition and mystery defining it. This has always been a place where power and access are hoarded. It’s the British pastime of the nation, the original sports washers. And guess what, the nation has its own culture, a series of esoteric hierarchies, a monarchy still exists.

England’s cricketers have been sealed up in this environment for years. Attempting to break free, to foster positivity, they are mirroring their own experience, creating another a bubble, a closed circle, however with a modern squad and a coach who wants you to be yourself if you fit the mold.

Stay present. Embrace challenges. Despite efforts, you’re always basically in the same place.

Considering this, it is perhaps the moment to show understanding for the movement, to acknowledge its merits, which are significant. How to define it? Promoting liberation. Questioning traditions. Batting aggressively|Attacking with