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The Journey of a Cult tends to be defined by clear stages.

1. The Grand Vision

A charismatic leader or leaders introduce an innovative concept offering a cure for alienated and vulnerable people.

So here we are. Plans are in motion to challenge the establishment down in Brisbane. Tensions are rising. Signs of trouble appear from within. A lone figure, vulnerable, nervous, the phrase ATTACKING MINDSET written on his body in chicken blood, has stumbled into view and is taken aside in secrecy to a different team at Derbyshire.

Do you ever miss the beginning, when optimism reigned? The days of Bazball 1.0, of pure instinct.

2. Love-Bombing

Cult leaders offer a fresh beginning, a brighter tomorrow, love, salvation together who all believe in the philosophy.

What was this thing back then? Players celebrating feeling good. Tattoos. Muscles. Jawlines. Peak performance vibes. Oh sure, England’s players will claim Bazball doesn’t actually exist, ironically as it’s denied, what exactly did I just watch?

Yet it’s clear the concept. It’s the batsman playing a shot so depraved it’s beyond belief. It’s the adrenaline of Ben Stokes in ultimate mode, an expression conveying: focused titan, strong features, hair woven from beaver hide, so authentically Modern Savage you half-expect to notice and find him positioned in the field shirtless holding a fish.

It’s Ben Duckett still being allowed to talk in press conferences, out there looking like a joyful figure in a waistcoat, uttering phrases such as we’re challenging norms. Certainly, the energy, initially, was only good energy.

3. A New Life

Development stage. Togetherness strengthened through repetition of mantras. These principles are often illogical as a test of “true belief”.

Does anyone else feel? The criticism, the fury, the feeling of letdown after the first Ashes Test defeat appears excessive, too much. England batted badly during the match, as history shows. They were torn apart in the field for a couple of hours as plans unraveled, carved around by the opponent batting like England but better, adaptive to conditions, a performer excelling with brilliance.

Now there is the attacks, the anger, the perception of the team as a disgrace. The feeling seems to be that England don’t just need to lose, they should be dismantled, to be cleansed, flame-throwered, destroyed through sheer skill of Mitchell Starc’s movements, the simple basics of Scott Boland, marking his wickets modestly as if receiving a nice new fishing rod. What impact will this have?

4. External Conflict

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

The fact remains, half a week out from the second Test, we have now reached a critical juncture in the lifespan of this thing. Victory is possible overseas through aggressive play. More likely, they could lose just as quickly. Should they fail it appears we could be witnessing the final stage.

Prior to that, there are two things to note about this. Previously, during the initial excitement, of passion and hope, an piece was published suggesting Bazball was a cult. There was outrage, which was helpful as it’s known a method to show something definitely isn’t a cult is should followers respond with anger denying scrutiny of the philosophy.

Recent events 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 travelling fans disappointed by the short match, similar to timeshare owners seeking justice.

Conversely, exists the larger scene of the opponent’s mixed more culturally hard-wired exasperation at these weirdly passive-aggressive buccaneers, out there saying, hey, that thing you love and have developed as part of your identity culturally from us, it’s not serious ultimately.

This is the core issue. All movements are similar. Bazball was a cult because cricket is a cult. In fact, the team has long been exclusive, a group, a private event, an insular community with centuries of ceremonial past supporting it. This has always been where influence is guarded. It’s the colonial game of the nation, the early image-makers. And notably, the country is a phenomenon, a structure of hidden ranks, a royal family remains.

The team have been sealed up in this environment since childhood. Attempting to break free, to create a less brutal environment, they are mirroring their own experience, building another enclosure, a limited community, but doing it this time with 15 cool guys and a leader promoting authenticity if you fit the mold.

Stay present. Confront risks. However much you change, things stay similar.

Reflecting on this, it is perhaps the moment to have some sympathy for Bazball, to recognize its positives, of which there are many. What is Bazball? Creating a sense of freedom. Questioning traditions. Batting aggressively|Attacking with