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

1. The Grand Vision

A charismatic leader or figureheads propose an innovative concept that promises a cure for disconnected individuals.

Thus we find ourselves. Preparations are underway to storm the compound down in Brisbane. The gunships are circling. Smoke is rising from within. A lone figure, naked, anxious, the slogan POSITIVE INTENT smeared across his chest as a symbol, has emerged into view and is being led away in secrecy to a different team at Derbyshire.

Remember the beginning, when the world was still young? The days of Bazball 1.0, of uninhibited aggression.

2. Love-Bombing

Team architects offer a reboot, hope for a future, love, redemption among a group who all believe in the method.

What was this thing back then? Players celebrating basking in glory. Ink. Forearms. Determination. Elite male wellness energy. Admittedly, England’s players often say Bazball doesn’t actually exist, amusingly since it’s not recognized, what was that spectacle?

However, everyone understands what it is. It’s the player executing a stroke so depraved it defies description. It’s the adrenaline of Ben Stokes at his peak, an expression conveying: focused titan, strong features, hair woven from beaver hide, genuinely raw you almost imagine to glance over and notice he’s fielding at mid-off bare-chested and cradling a wild salmon.

It’s the opener still being allowed speaking publicly, out there looking like a joyful figure smartly dressed, saying stuff like we’re challenging norms. And yes, the vibe, initially, was only good energy.

3. Expansion Period

Building period. Cohesion maintained by rote learning of key phrases. These beliefs can appear contradictory as a loyalty check.

Does anyone else feel? The backlash, the anger, the sense of betrayal post-defeat appears excessive, too much. The batting collapsed during the match, as they often do in Australia. They were dominated in the field for a couple of hours as plans unraveled, manipulated by the batsman batting like England but better, adaptive to conditions, a performer excelling with brilliance.

Now there is the pile-on, the anger, the perception of the team as a kind of abomination. The feeling seems to be that losing isn’t enough, they should be dismantled, to be cleansed, obliterated, defeated by the vengeful purity of Mitchell Starc’s movements, the low-fi orthodoxies of the veteran, seen enjoying his wickets with a bashful smile as if receiving a pleasant gift. What impact will this have?

4. The Backlash Phase

Problems arise because of mistakes. Yet, mistakes are denied. It turns to hatred of the outside world.

The fact remains, approaching from the second Test, we are at a delicious point of tension in the lifespan of this approach. England could quite easily win in the next Test in a blur of adrenal disruption. Alternatively, defeat could come swiftly. And if they do lose it seems we could be witnessing the death cult phase.

Before that happens, a couple of points worth saying on the topic. In the past, back in those heady early days, of passion and hope, a column appeared calling it a phenomenon. Criticism followed, which demonstrated since it’s clear how to confirm that it’s not a closed group is when its acolytes send hundreds of furiously one-eyed messages denying scrutiny of the philosophy.

The developments in the last few days are equally notable. Opposition to the style has turned into a movement. Social media is furious, disappointed commentators, pictures of upset supporters abroad cheated out of three days of cricket, similar to people wanting fairness.

On the other hand, there is the broader context of Australia’s more nuanced deep-seated frustration at these weirdly passive-aggressive buccaneers, stating, the methods you value and have fostered and nurtured to distinguish yourselves culturally from us, it’s not serious ultimately.

Here lies the truth. All movements are similar. The approach was a phenomenon since the sport itself is insular. Or at least, the sport in England is closed, a clique, an elite gathering, an insular community with centuries of ceremonial past supporting it. This has always been where entry is limited. It’s the imperial sport of the British, the early image-makers. And surprisingly, the nation has its own culture, a system of unknown levels, a monarchy still exists.

The players have been sealed up in this environment since childhood. In trying to escape from it, to foster positivity, they are mirroring their own experience, creating another a bubble, a limited community, however with a new team and a mentor promoting authenticity if you fit the mold.

Stay present. Embrace challenges. But no matter how fast and far you run, things stay similar.

With this mind, now is the time to offer compassion for the approach, to appreciate its good points, that are numerous. What is Bazball? Creating a sense of freedom. Questioning traditions. Batting aggressively|Attacking with