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The Journey of a Cult tends to be marked by specific steps.

1. The Grand Vision

A charismatic leader or figureheads introduce a revolutionary approach that promises a panacea for disconnected individuals.

Thus we find ourselves. Preparations are underway to challenge the establishment down in Brisbane. Pressure is mounting. Smoke is rising from the out-houses. One individual, naked, nervous, the phrase ATTACKING MINDSET written on his body in chicken blood, has stumbled from the field and is being led away with discretion to a different team at Derbyshire.

Do you ever miss the beginning, when everything was fresh? The days of Bazball 1.0, of pure instinct.

2. Initial Adoration

Movement founders offer a reboot, a brighter tomorrow, support, success within a community who all believe in the big idea.

What was this thing initially? A team united feeling good. Body art. Forearms. Jawlines. Confident masculinity. Admittedly, The squad insist it’s not a real term, amusingly since it’s not recognized, what did we see?

Yet it’s clear its essence. It’s the player playing a shot so unconventional it’s beyond belief. It’s the thrill of the captain in ultimate mode, an expression conveying: focused titan, beard made of wood, untamed style, so authentically Modern Savage you half-expect to look down and find him positioned at mid-off bare-chested holding a fish.

It’s the opener still being allowed addressing the media, appearing as a happy little woodland creature smartly dressed, saying stuff like we’re breaking down traditions. Indeed, the energy, initially, was only good energy.

3. Expansion Period

Building period. Unity enforced through repetition of mantras. These principles may seem irrational as a test of “true belief”.

Is it just me? The criticism, the fury, the disappointment after the first Ashes Test defeat appears excessive, too much. The performance was poor in Perth, as they often do in Australia. They were savaged while bowling during a brief period as the bowling and captaincy fell apart, manipulated by the opponent batting like England but better, adaptive to conditions, an athlete shining with a kind of light around him.

Now there is the pile-on, the frustration, the view of the sport as a disgrace. The feeling seems to be that defeat must be total, they must be humbled, to be purged, flame-throwered, overwhelmed by the vengeful purity of Mitchell Starc’s movements, the low-fi orthodoxies of Scott Boland, out there celebrating his wickets with a bashful smile like he’s just been given a rewarding prize. What impact will this have?

4. Hate Bonding

Issues emerge because of mistakes. But the cult cannot admit errors. It starts to feed on anger towards critics.

Ultimately, a few days before from the second Test, we’ve entered an intriguing moment in the story of this movement. Victory is possible in Brisbane in a blur of adrenal disruption. Alternatively, defeat could come swiftly. Should they fail it seems we really might be entering the decline.

Before that happens, there are two things to consider about this. Previously, during the initial excitement, of passion and hope, I wrote an article calling it a phenomenon. Criticism followed, which demonstrated as it’s known a method to show that it’s not a closed group is should followers send hundreds of furiously one-eyed messages denying scrutiny of the philosophy.

The developments lately are fascinating. Opposition to the style is now the trend. Online outrage is widespread, angry English pundits, pictures of upset travelling fans missing out on play, similar to investors demanding recourse.

On the other hand, we have the wider backdrop of the host’s complex ingrained annoyance towards the unconventional visitors, claiming, hey, that thing you love and have developed as part of your identity culturally from us, it’s not serious in the end old boy.

And this is the real point. It’s all cults. Bazball was a cult since the sport itself is insular. Or rather, the sport in England is closed, a clique, a garden party, a restricted environment with two hundred years of tradition and mystery defining it. It has long been where influence is guarded. It’s the British pastime of England, the early image-makers. And surprisingly, the country is a phenomenon, a series of esoteric hierarchies, a monarchy still exists.

England’s cricketers have been sealed up within this world for years. In trying to escape from it, to build a better atmosphere, they are simply replicating their own experience, forming a new circle, a limited community, but doing it this time with a new team and a leader who wants you to be yourself as long as yourself is quite a lot like myself.

Focus on the moment. Embrace challenges. Despite efforts, you remain stuck.

With this mind, now is the time to have some sympathy for the approach, to acknowledge its merits, of which there are many. What does it represent? Promoting liberation. Questioning traditions. Batting aggressively|Attacking with