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The Journey of a Cult can be defined by specific steps.

1. The Grand Vision

A dominant personality or leaders introduce a revolutionary approach pledging a cure for struggling players.

And so it goes. Plans are in motion to confront the system overseas. The gunships are circling. Conflict emerges from the sidelines. An isolated player, exposed, nervous, the phrase ATTACKING MINDSET smeared across his chest as a statement, has emerged into view and is removed with discretion to a different team at Derbyshire.

Remember the beginning, when optimism reigned? The days of Bazball 1.0, of Bazball without brains.

2. The Honeymoon Phase

Team architects offer a reboot, optimism ahead, support, success within a community united in belief in the method.

How did it feel initially? A team united feeling good. Tattoos. Strength. Jawlines. Confident masculinity. Of course, The squad often say Bazball doesn’t actually exist, which is funny since it’s not recognized, what exactly did I just watch?

Yet it’s clear the concept. It’s Harry Brook executing a stroke so depraved it’s beyond belief. It’s the thrill of the leader at his peak, an expression conveying: thoughtful warrior, rugged appearance, untamed style, genuinely raw you wouldn’t be surprised to look down and see him playing at mid-off shirtless embracing nature.

It’s the batsman often seen to talk in press conferences, out there looking like a joyful figure smartly dressed, expressing thoughts like we’re breaking down traditions. Certainly, the atmosphere, for a significant period, was only good energy.

3. Expansion Period

Development stage. Unity enforced by rote learning of mantras. These ideas are often illogical to prove commitment.

Does anyone else feel? The criticism, the outrage, the feeling of letdown following the initial loss appears excessive, too much. The performance was poor in Perth, as is typical there. They were torn apart in the field for a couple of hours as the bowling and captaincy fell apart, manipulated by the batsman batting like England but better, adjusting to the pitch, a performer excelling with aura.

Currently, we see the attacks, the anger, the perception of the team as a failure. The opinion suggests that England don’t just need to lose, they need to lose righteously, to be scoured, destroyed, overwhelmed by the vengeful purity of Mitchell Starc’s movements, the low-fi orthodoxies of the bowler, marking achievements with a bashful smile similar to getting a nice new fishing rod. How will they respond?

4. External Conflict

Challenges surface due to setbacks. Yet, mistakes are denied. It starts to feed on anger towards critics.

Ultimately, a few days before the upcoming game, we have now reached an intriguing moment in the lifespan of this movement. Victory is possible in Brisbane in a blur of adrenal disruption. More likely, defeat could come swiftly. Should they fail it appears we really might be entering the decline.

Ahead of this, several aspects worth saying on the topic. More than two years ago, back in those heady early days, of optimism and energy, a column appeared labeling it a movement. Criticism followed, which proved the point because everyone knows how to confirm something definitely isn’t a cult is when its acolytes react defensively objecting to the questioning of its truths.

What has happened lately are fascinating. Opposition to the style has now become the cult. Social media is furious, angry English pundits, pictures of upset travelling fans missing out on play, similar to people wanting fairness.

On the other hand, we have the wider backdrop of the host’s complex ingrained annoyance towards the unconventional visitors, claiming, the methods you value and have developed to distinguish yourselves from the opposition, it’s just a joke in the end old boy.

This is the core issue. It’s all cults. Bazball was a cult as the game has its own culture. Or rather, the team has long been exclusive, a clique, an elite gathering, an insular community with centuries of opaque and ritualistic cult history supporting it. It has long been where influence is guarded. It’s the imperial sport of England, the early image-makers. And guess what, the country is a phenomenon, a system of unknown levels, a royal family remains.

The players have been sealed up in this system for years. Attempting to break free, to create a less brutal environment, they are simply replicating their past, building another enclosure, an exclusive group, but doing it this time with 15 cool guys and a mentor promoting authenticity provided you conform.

Focus on the moment. Run towards the danger. 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 appreciate its good points, that are numerous. What is Bazball? Encouraging expression. Challenging orthodoxies. Batting aggressively|Attacking with