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The Life Cycle of a Cult tends to be characterized by distinct phases.

1. The Core Concept

A dominant personality or coaches introduce a new and transcendent idea that promises a solution for struggling players.

And so it goes. Plans are in motion to challenge the establishment down in Brisbane. Pressure is mounting. Smoke is rising from within. One individual, naked, anxious, the words HIGH RELEASE POINT written on his body in chicken blood, has emerged from the field and is being led away with discretion towards an inconclusive loan stint at Derbyshire.

Do you ever miss the early days, when optimism reigned? The era of early Bazball, of uninhibited aggression.

2. The Honeymoon Phase

Movement founders offer a reboot, optimism ahead, camaraderie, redemption together united in belief in the philosophy.

What was this thing at first? A team united basking in glory. Tattoos. Strength. Focus. Confident masculinity. Oh sure, The team insist Bazball doesn’t actually exist, ironically since it’s not recognized, what exactly did I just watch?

But we know its essence. It’s the player attempting a move so unconventional it defies description. It’s the adrenaline of Ben Stokes in his final form, an expression conveying: thoughtful warrior, rugged appearance, hair woven from beaver hide, truly contemporary you half-expect to look down and notice he’s fielding on the ground shirtless and cradling a wild salmon.

It’s Ben Duckett still being allowed to talk in press conferences, appearing as a joyful figure smartly dressed, saying stuff like we are actively deconstructing the orange. Indeed, the energy, initially, was uplifting.

3. The Growth Phase

Development stage. Cohesion maintained via memorization of key phrases. These ideas may seem irrational as a loyalty check.

Is it just me? The backlash, the fury, the sense of betrayal after the first Ashes Test defeat seems too strong, overdone. The performance was poor during the match, as they often do in Australia. They were torn apart defensively in a short span when tactics failed, manipulated by the opponent batting like England but better, responsive to the situation, a performer excelling with brilliance.

Currently, we see the attacks, the anger, the perception of the team as a disgrace. The consensus is that defeat must be total, they should be dismantled, to be cleansed, obliterated, destroyed by the vengeful purity of Mitchell Starc’s movements, the simple basics of the veteran, seen enjoying his wickets with a bashful smile like he’s just been given a rewarding prize. What impact will this have?

4. The Backlash Phase

Challenges surface because of mistakes. Yet, mistakes are denied. It begins to thrive on hatred of the outside world.

Ultimately, a few days before from the second Test, we have now reached a delicious point of tension in the story of this thing. They might succeed in Brisbane through aggressive play. Alternatively, defeat could come swiftly. In case of defeat it feels like we really might be entering the death cult phase.

Before that happens, there are two things to note 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 demonstrated as it’s known the best way of proving that it’s not a closed group is if supporters send hundreds of furiously one-eyed messages rejecting criticism of its truths.

Recent events recently are fascinating. Opposition to the style has turned into a movement. We have a uniformly angry internet, critical analysts, images of frustrated travelling fans cheated out of three days of cricket, like a room full of people wanting fairness.

Meanwhile, exists the larger scene of the host’s complex ingrained annoyance towards the unconventional visitors, stating, your cherished traditions and have fostered and nurtured as part of your identity from the opposition, well, it’s all a bit of a gag in the end old boy.

This is the core issue. It’s all cults. The style was a trend as the game has its own culture. Or rather, the team has long been exclusive, a circle, a garden party, an insular community with two hundred years of tradition and mystery behind it. This has always been where entry is limited. It’s the colonial game of the nation, the early image-makers. And guess what, the nation has its own culture, a series of esoteric hierarchies, a place that literally still has a king.

The team have been isolated within this world since childhood. Seeking change, to foster positivity, they are mirroring their past, forming a new circle, a limited community, however with a modern squad and a leader encouraging individuality provided you conform.

Focus on the moment. Confront risks. However much you change, you remain stuck.

With this mind, it might be appropriate to offer compassion for the movement, to acknowledge its merits, that are numerous. How to define it? Promoting liberation. Defying norms. Batting aggressively|Attacking with