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The Life Cycle of a Cult can be characterized by clear stages.

1. The Grand Vision

An inspiring figure or leaders propose a new and transcendent idea that promises a solution for struggling players.

Thus we find ourselves. Plans are in motion to confront the system down in Brisbane. The gunships are circling. Smoke is rising from the out-houses. An isolated player, naked, anxious, the words HIGH RELEASE POINT displayed prominently in chicken blood, has emerged from the field and is removed in secrecy towards an inconclusive loan stint elsewhere.

Do you ever miss the beginning, when optimism reigned? The era of early Bazball, of Bazball without brains.

2. The Honeymoon Phase

Cult leaders guarantee a reboot, a brighter tomorrow, support, success among a group who all believe in the method.

How did it feel back then? A team united basking in glory. Ink. Forearms. Jawlines. Confident masculinity. Admittedly, England’s players insist Bazball doesn’t actually exist, ironically since it’s not recognized, what did we see?

However, everyone understands what it is. It’s the player playing a shot so depraved it’s beyond belief. It’s the adrenaline of the leader at his peak, a look that says: focused titan, strong features, untamed style, so authentically Modern Savage you half-expect to glance over and see him playing on the ground stripped to the waist embracing nature.

It’s Ben Duckett continuing to have permission addressing the media, out there looking like a cheerful animal in a waistcoat, expressing thoughts like we’re challenging norms. Certainly, the energy, initially, was only good energy.

3. A New Life

Growth phase. Togetherness strengthened by rote learning of the cult’s slogans. These principles can appear contradictory as a test of “true belief”.

Am I alone? The criticism, the anger, the disappointment post-defeat seems too strong, too much. The performance was poor during the match, as history shows. They were dominated defensively for a couple of hours as the bowling and captaincy fell apart, carved around by Travis Head playing aggressively but smarter, adaptive to conditions, an athlete shining with a kind of light around him.

Currently, we see the pile-on, the frustration, the sense of English Test cricket as a kind of abomination. The feeling seems to be that defeat must be total, they need to lose righteously, to be scoured, flame-throwered, destroyed by the vengeful purity of the pace attack, the conventional tactics of the bowler, out there celebrating achievements modestly like he’s just been given a rewarding prize. What will this do to them?

4. Hate Bonding

Problems arise due to setbacks. Yet, mistakes are denied. It begins to thrive on anger towards critics.

In truth, half a week out from the second Test, we are at an intriguing moment in the lifespan of this movement. England could quite easily win in Brisbane with bold tactics. More likely, failure may follow. In case of defeat it appears we may see the final stage.

Before that happens, several aspects to note regarding this. In the past, at the start, of optimism and energy, a column appeared calling it a phenomenon. There was outrage, which proved the point as it’s known a method to show that it’s not a closed group is when its acolytes respond with anger rejecting criticism of the beliefs.

Recent events in the last few days are fascinating. Opposition to the style is now the trend. Online outrage is widespread, disappointed commentators, images of frustrated followers overseas missing out on play, reminiscent of investors demanding recourse.

Conversely, we have the wider backdrop of the opponent’s mixed deep-seated frustration with the aggressive tourists, claiming, the methods you value and have honed as one way of separating yourself from the opposition, well, it’s all a bit of a gag ultimately.

And this is the real point. Everything is a cult. Bazball was a cult because cricket is a cult. Or at least, the sport in England is closed, a clique, a garden party, a closed world with a long history of ceremonial past behind it. This has always been a place where power and access are hoarded. It’s the colonial game of the British, the pioneering brand. And surprisingly, Britain is itself a cult, a structure of hidden ranks, a monarchy still exists.

The players have been isolated in this environment since childhood. In trying to escape from it, to foster positivity, they are simply replicating their own experience, creating another a bubble, a limited community, but doing it this time with a new team and a mentor who wants you to be yourself if you fit the mold.

Focus on the moment. Embrace challenges. Despite efforts, you’re always basically in the same place.

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