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The Life Cycle of a Cult is often defined by clear stages.

1. The Big Idea

An inspiring figure or leaders introduce a revolutionary approach offering a panacea for disconnected individuals.

So here we are. Plans are in motion to challenge the establishment in Australia. Tensions are rising. Signs of trouble appear from within. An isolated player, naked, anxious, the slogan POSITIVE INTENT written on his body in chicken blood, has stumbled from the field and is being led away under a blanket towards an inconclusive loan stint in county cricket.

Do you recall the early days, when the world was still young? The days of Bazball 1.0, of Bazball without brains.

2. The Honeymoon Phase

Cult leaders offer a fresh beginning, hope for a future, support, success together united in belief in the method.

What did it represent initially? Players celebrating enjoying success. Tattoos. Strength. Jawlines. Confident masculinity. Of course, The team often say they don’t use the label, amusingly as it’s denied, what exactly did I just watch?

Yet it’s clear what it is. It’s the batsman executing a stroke so depraved it’s beyond belief. It’s the thrill of the captain at his peak, a look that says: thoughtful warrior, strong features, hair woven from beaver hide, genuinely raw you wouldn’t be surprised to glance over and find him positioned on the ground bare-chested embracing nature.

It’s Ben Duckett often seen to talk in press conferences, out there looking like a cheerful animal formally attired, expressing thoughts like we’re breaking down traditions. Indeed, the atmosphere, for a significant period, was entirely positive.

3. A New Life

Development stage. Togetherness strengthened through repetition of the cult’s slogans. These ideas may seem irrational as a loyalty check.

Am I alone? The reaction, the anger, the sense of betrayal post-defeat seems too strong, unwarranted. England batted badly during the match, as is typical there. They were savaged defensively in a short span when tactics failed, outplayed by the batsman batting like England but better, adjusting to the pitch, a man playing with aura.

Currently, we see the criticism, the rage, the perception of the team as a failure. The feeling seems to be that defeat must be total, they must be humbled, to be cleansed, flame-throwered, defeated through sheer skill of Mitchell Starc’s movements, the conventional tactics of Scott Boland, seen enjoying successes with a bashful smile like he’s just been given a pleasant gift. What will this do to them?

4. External Conflict

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 next match, we are at a critical juncture in the journey of this approach. They might succeed overseas through aggressive play. More likely, failure may follow. Should they fail it seems we may see the decline.

Ahead of this, a couple of points worth saying about this. Previously, back in those heady early days, of light and heat, an piece was published suggesting Bazball was a cult. There was outrage, which demonstrated as it’s known the best way of proving lack of cult status is if supporters react defensively rejecting criticism of the philosophy.

Recent events in the last few days are fascinating. Criticism of the approach is now the trend. Online outrage is widespread, disappointed commentators, pictures of upset followers overseas missing out on play, similar to timeshare owners seeking justice.

Meanwhile, we have the wider backdrop of Australia’s more nuanced deep-seated frustration towards the unconventional visitors, out there saying, hey, that thing you love and have honed as one way of separating yourself culturally from us, well, it’s all a bit of a gag after all.

And this is the real point. All movements are similar. The approach was a phenomenon because cricket is a cult. Or rather, the sport in England is closed, a group, an elite gathering, a restricted environment with two hundred years of opaque and ritualistic cult history behind it. It has long been where influence is guarded. It’s the British pastime of England, the early image-makers. And guess what, the country is a phenomenon, a structure of hidden ranks, a place that literally still has a king.

The team have been enclosed in this system since childhood. In trying to escape from it, to build a better atmosphere, they are just repeating their upbringing, building another enclosure, a limited community, however with 15 cool guys and a coach who wants you to be yourself as long as yourself is quite a lot like myself.

Stay present. Embrace challenges. But no matter how fast and far you run, things stay similar.

Reflecting on this, it is perhaps the moment to offer compassion for the movement, to acknowledge its merits, that are numerous. What is Bazball? Encouraging expression. Questioning traditions. Batting aggressively|Attacking with