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The Journey of a Cult is often defined by clear stages.

1. The Big Idea

A charismatic leader or figureheads present an innovative concept offering a panacea for struggling players.

So here we are. They’re getting ready to challenge the establishment in Australia. Pressure is mounting. Signs of trouble appear from the sidelines. An isolated player, naked, shivering, the phrase ATTACKING MINDSET written on his body as a statement, has come staggering through the lines and is removed in secrecy for a temporary assignment elsewhere.

Do you ever miss the early days, when optimism reigned? The era of early Bazball, of pure instinct.

2. Initial Adoration

Team architects promise a reboot, hope for a future, support, success together united in belief in the method.

How did it feel at first? A team united feeling good. Body art. Muscles. Focus. Elite male wellness energy. Of course, The team will claim Bazball doesn’t actually exist, which is funny because if it doesn’t exist, what did we see?

Yet it’s clear what it is. It’s the batsman executing a stroke so unconventional it defies description. It’s the adrenaline of the leader in ultimate mode, a look that says: thoughtful warrior, rugged appearance, untamed style, truly contemporary you half-expect to look down and find him positioned on the ground shirtless embracing nature.

It’s Ben Duckett often seen speaking publicly, resembling a joyful figure in a waistcoat, expressing thoughts like we’re breaking down traditions. Indeed, the energy, for quite a long time, was only good energy.

3. A New Life

Growth phase. Cohesion maintained by rote learning of key phrases. These principles are often illogical as a loyalty check.

Is it just me? The backlash, the fury, the disappointment following the initial loss appears excessive, overdone. England batted badly in Perth, as history shows. They were dominated in the field during a brief period when tactics failed, manipulated by Travis Head imitating their style effectively, adaptive to conditions, a performer excelling with aura.

And now we have this the criticism, the anger, the view of the sport as a disgrace. The feeling seems to be that England don’t just need to lose, they should be dismantled, to be cleansed, destroyed, destroyed via traditional methods of the pace attack, the conventional tactics of Scott Boland, out there celebrating his wickets humbly as if receiving a rewarding prize. How will they respond?

4. The Backlash Phase

Challenges surface because of mistakes. However, faults are ignored. It turns to anger towards critics.

The fact remains, a few days before from the second Test, we have now reached a critical juncture in the lifespan of this approach. They might succeed in Brisbane in a blur of adrenal disruption. Alternatively, failure may follow. Should they fail it feels like we may see the final stage.

Before that happens, several aspects to consider about this. Previously, back in those heady early days, of light and heat, I wrote an article calling it a phenomenon. Criticism followed, which demonstrated as it’s known the best way of proving that it’s not a closed group is if supporters react defensively rejecting criticism of its truths.

The developments lately are fascinating. Criticism of the approach has turned into a movement. Online outrage is widespread, angry English pundits, pictures of upset travelling fans disappointed by the short match, similar to investors demanding recourse.

On the other hand, we have the wider backdrop of the host’s complex more culturally hard-wired exasperation with the aggressive tourists, out there saying, your cherished traditions and have honed to distinguish yourselves from others, well, it’s all a bit of a gag 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 at least, English cricket has always been a cult, a circle, an elite gathering, a restricted environment with a long history of tradition and mystery behind it. Historically, this was where influence is guarded. It’s the imperial sport of the British, the original sports washers. And surprisingly, Britain is itself a cult, a system of unknown levels, a place that literally still has a king.

The team have been isolated in this environment from a young age. Attempting to break free, to build a better atmosphere, they are mirroring their upbringing, building another enclosure, a closed circle, but now with a new team and a mentor encouraging individuality as long as yourself is quite a lot like myself.

Live where your feet are. Embrace challenges. But no matter how fast and far you run, things stay similar.

With this mind, now is the time to show understanding for Bazball, to acknowledge its merits, that are numerous. How to define it? Encouraging expression. Challenging orthodoxies. Batting aggressively|Attacking with