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The Life Cycle of a Cult is often characterized by specific steps.

1. The Core Concept

A charismatic leader or coaches present a new and transcendent idea pledging a panacea for struggling players.

And so it goes. Plans are in motion to confront the system in Australia. The gunships are circling. Signs of trouble appear from the out-houses. A lone figure, exposed, nervous, the slogan POSITIVE INTENT written on his body as a statement, has stumbled into view and is removed in secrecy to a different team at Derbyshire.

Do you ever miss the start, when optimism reigned? The days of Bazball 1.0, of Bazball without brains.

2. Love-Bombing

Cult leaders promise a fresh beginning, a brighter tomorrow, camaraderie, success together who all believe in the big idea.

How did it feel back then? Just men on a balcony basking in glory. Body art. Strength. Determination. Peak performance vibes. Oh sure, The team often say Bazball doesn’t actually exist, ironically as it’s denied, what was that spectacle?

Yet it’s clear what it is. It’s the batsman executing a stroke so outrageous it’s beyond belief. It’s the adrenaline of Ben Stokes in his final form, a demeanor suggesting: pensive Nordic god, strong features, natural look, so authentically Modern Savage you almost imagine to look down and notice he’s fielding in the field stripped to the waist holding a fish.

It’s the opener still being allowed to talk in press conferences, appearing as a cheerful animal formally attired, expressing thoughts like we’re breaking down traditions. Certainly, the atmosphere, initially, was uplifting.

3. Expansion Period

Growth phase. Cohesion maintained through repetition of key phrases. These beliefs are often illogical as a test of “true belief”.

Does anyone else feel? The backlash, the anger, the disappointment following the initial loss appears excessive, overdone. England batted badly on the field, as they often do in Australia. They were savaged while bowling during a brief period when tactics failed, manipulated by the batsman imitating their style effectively, responsive to the situation, a performer excelling with brilliance.

Currently, we see the attacks, the frustration, the view of the sport as a failure. The feeling seems to be that defeat must be total, they need to lose righteously, to be cleansed, destroyed, overwhelmed through sheer skill of the pace attack, the low-fi orthodoxies of the veteran, out there celebrating achievements modestly like he’s just been given a pleasant gift. What will this do to them?

4. External Conflict

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

In truth, approaching the upcoming game, we have now reached a critical juncture in the lifespan of this movement. They might succeed in the next Test in a blur of adrenal disruption. More likely, they could lose just as quickly. Should they fail it feels like we really might be entering the decline.

Ahead of this, a couple of points to note about this. More than two years ago, back in those heady early days, of light and heat, I wrote an article suggesting Bazball was a cult. Criticism followed, which demonstrated since it’s clear a method to show lack of cult status is if supporters send hundreds of furiously one-eyed messages objecting to the questioning of its truths.

What has happened recently are equally notable. Criticism of the approach has turned into a movement. Online outrage is widespread, angry English pundits, images of frustrated supporters abroad disappointed by the short match, like a room full of timeshare owners seeking justice.

On the other hand, we have the wider backdrop of Australia’s more nuanced ingrained annoyance with the aggressive tourists, stating, your cherished traditions and have honed as part of your identity from others, it’s not serious in the end old boy.

Here lies the truth. Everything is a cult. The style was a trend since the sport itself is insular. Or at least, the team has long been exclusive, a circle, a private event, a restricted environment with centuries of opaque and ritualistic cult history supporting it. Historically, this was where entry is limited. It’s the British pastime of the nation, the original sports washers. And guess what, the country is a phenomenon, a series of esoteric hierarchies, a place that literally still has a king.

The players have been sealed up in this environment for years. In trying to escape from it, to build a better atmosphere, they are just repeating their upbringing, forming a new circle, a closed circle, but doing it this time with 15 cool guys and a leader promoting authenticity as long as yourself is quite a lot like myself.

Live where your feet are. Run towards the danger. But no matter how fast and far you run, things stay similar.

Reflecting on this, it might be appropriate to offer compassion for Bazball, to recognize its positives, that are numerous. What is Bazball? Promoting liberation. Challenging orthodoxies. Batting aggressively|Attacking with