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The Journey of a Cult tends to be characterized by clear stages.

1. The Grand Vision

A dominant personality or figureheads propose a new and transcendent idea offering a solution for disconnected individuals.

Thus we find ourselves. Plans are in motion to challenge the establishment overseas. Pressure is mounting. Smoke is rising from the out-houses. An isolated player, vulnerable, shivering, the slogan POSITIVE INTENT smeared across his chest as a statement, has emerged through the lines and is removed in secrecy to a different team elsewhere.

Do you recall the beginning, when the world was still young? The initial phase, of pure instinct.

2. Love-Bombing

Movement founders guarantee a new start, hope for a future, love, success together who all believe in the philosophy.

What was this thing at first? Just men on a balcony basking in glory. Ink. Forearms. Determination. Confident masculinity. Admittedly, The team insist they don’t use the label, ironically because if it doesn’t exist, what did we see?

But we know the concept. It’s Harry Brook playing a shot so depraved it’s beyond belief. It’s the excitement of Ben Stokes in his final form, an expression conveying: pensive Nordic god, rugged appearance, untamed style, truly contemporary you half-expect to look down and see him playing on the ground bare-chested embracing nature.

It’s the opener continuing to have permission addressing the media, appearing as a joyful figure in a waistcoat, expressing thoughts like we’re challenging norms. Certainly, the energy, for a significant period, was uplifting.

3. The Growth Phase

Development stage. Unity enforced by rote learning of mantras. These beliefs may seem irrational as a test of “true belief”.

Does anyone else feel? The reaction, the outrage, the feeling of letdown post-defeat feels overblown, too much. The batting collapsed on the field, as is typical there. They were dominated while bowling during a brief period as plans unraveled, manipulated by Travis Head batting like England but better, adjusting to the pitch, a man playing with brilliance.

And now we have this the pile-on, the frustration, the perception of the team as a kind of abomination. The feeling seems to be that England don’t just need to lose, they must be humbled, to be purged, destroyed, destroyed via traditional methods of Mitchell Starc’s movements, the simple basics of Scott Boland, out there celebrating his wickets modestly similar to getting a pleasant gift. What will this do to them?

4. The Backlash Phase

Issues emerge due to setbacks. But the cult cannot admit errors. It starts to feed on hatred of the outside world.

Ultimately, half a week out from the second Test, we’ve entered an intriguing moment in the lifespan of this thing. They might succeed in the next Test through aggressive play. Probably, defeat could come swiftly. Should they fail it appears we really might be entering the decline.

Before that happens, a couple of points to note about this. In the past, during the initial excitement, of optimism and energy, an piece was published calling it a phenomenon. People were very angry, which proved the point as it’s known a method to show lack of cult status is should followers react defensively denying scrutiny of the philosophy.

What has happened recently is just as interesting. Criticism of the approach has now become the cult. Social media is furious, disappointed commentators, shots of angry middle-aged supporters abroad missing out on play, reminiscent of people wanting fairness.

On the other hand, we have the wider backdrop of the opponent’s mixed more culturally hard-wired exasperation with the aggressive tourists, out there saying, the methods you value and have fostered and nurtured as one way of separating yourself culturally from us, it’s not serious ultimately.

Here lies the truth. All movements are similar. The style was a trend since the sport itself is insular. Or at least, the sport in England is closed, a circle, an elite gathering, a closed world with centuries of opaque and ritualistic cult history supporting it. Historically, this was where entry is limited. It’s the colonial game of England, the early image-makers. And surprisingly, the country is a phenomenon, a series of esoteric hierarchies, a royal family remains.

England’s cricketers have been isolated within this world for years. Seeking change, to foster positivity, they are simply replicating their past, forming a new circle, a limited community, however with a modern squad and a mentor who wants you to be yourself provided you conform.

Live where your feet are. Embrace challenges. Despite efforts, things stay similar.

Reflecting on this, now is the time to have some sympathy for Bazball, to appreciate its good points, that are numerous. What is Bazball? Encouraging expression. Defying norms. Batting aggressively|Attacking with