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

1. The Big Idea

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

Thus we find ourselves. Plans are in motion to storm the compound overseas. Pressure is mounting. Signs of trouble appear from within. One individual, vulnerable, shivering, the slogan POSITIVE INTENT written on his body in chicken blood, has come staggering through the lines and is removed under a blanket to a different team in county cricket.

Remember the early days, when optimism reigned? The era of early Bazball, of pure instinct.

2. Love-Bombing

Team architects promise a fresh beginning, hope for a future, support, success within a community with shared faith in the philosophy.

How did it feel back then? A team united enjoying success. Tattoos. Muscles. Focus. Elite male wellness energy. Admittedly, The squad insist it’s not a real term, ironically as it’s denied, what exactly did I just watch?

But we know what it is. It’s the batsman attempting a move so depraved it defies description. It’s the excitement of the captain in ultimate mode, an expression conveying: thoughtful warrior, rugged appearance, natural look, so authentically Modern Savage you wouldn’t be surprised to glance over and see him playing in the field shirtless embracing nature.

It’s the batsman still being allowed addressing the media, appearing as a joyful figure formally attired, uttering phrases such as we are actively deconstructing the orange. And yes, the energy, for a significant period, was entirely positive.

3. The Growth Phase

Development stage. Cohesion maintained through repetition of the cult’s slogans. These beliefs may seem irrational to prove commitment.

Am I alone? The backlash, the outrage, the feeling of letdown following the initial loss seems too strong, overdone. The performance was poor in Perth, as history shows. They were savaged in the field in a short span as plans unraveled, carved around by the opponent batting like England but better, responsive to the situation, a performer excelling with aura.

Now there is the attacks, the frustration, the sense of English Test cricket as a failure. The opinion suggests that England don’t just need to lose, they need to lose righteously, to be cleansed, obliterated, destroyed through sheer skill of Mitchell Starc’s movements, the simple basics of the bowler, out there celebrating successes humbly similar to getting a pleasant gift. What impact will this have?

4. Hate Bonding

Issues emerge because of mistakes. But the cult cannot admit errors. It starts to feed on hatred of the outside world.

In truth, approaching the upcoming game, we have now reached a critical juncture in the story of this thing. They might succeed in the next Test with bold tactics. Probably, they could lose just as quickly. Should they fail it appears we really might be entering the final stage.

Before that happens, several aspects to consider regarding this. Previously, back in those heady early days, of optimism and energy, a column appeared suggesting Bazball was a cult. People were very angry, which proved the point as it’s known the best way of proving something definitely isn’t a cult is if supporters react defensively objecting to the questioning of its truths.

The developments in the last few days are fascinating. Opposition to the style is now the trend. We have a uniformly angry internet, critical analysts, pictures of upset followers overseas cheated out of three days of cricket, like a room full of investors demanding recourse.

On the other hand, 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 developed to distinguish yourselves from the opposition, it’s just a joke after all.

Here lies the truth. It’s all cults. The style was a trend because cricket is a cult. In fact, the team has long been exclusive, a circle, a garden party, a restricted environment with two hundred years of opaque and ritualistic cult history supporting it. This has always been where entry is limited. It’s the colonial game of the nation, the original sports washers. And notably, the country is a phenomenon, a system of unknown levels, a place that literally still has a king.

The players have been isolated in this environment for years. Attempting to break free, to build a better atmosphere, they are mirroring their own experience, building another enclosure, an exclusive group, but now with 15 cool guys and a leader encouraging individuality as long as yourself is quite a lot like myself.

Live where your feet are. Embrace challenges. But no matter how fast and far you run, things stay similar.

With this mind, it might be appropriate to show understanding for the approach, to recognize its positives, that are numerous. What is Bazball? Encouraging expression. Questioning traditions. Batting aggressively|Attacking with