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The Life Cycle of a Cult tends to be defined by clear stages.

1. The Grand Vision

A dominant personality or coaches propose a new and transcendent idea that promises a solution for alienated and vulnerable people.

And so it goes. Preparations are underway to confront the system down in Brisbane. Pressure is mounting. Signs of trouble appear from the sidelines. One individual, exposed, nervous, the phrase ATTACKING MINDSET smeared across his chest as a statement, has emerged into view and is being led away under a blanket towards an inconclusive loan stint at Derbyshire.

Do you ever miss the start, when everything was fresh? The era of early Bazball, of uninhibited aggression.

2. The Honeymoon Phase

Team architects promise a fresh beginning, hope for a future, love, salvation together united in belief in the big idea.

What did it represent initially? Just men on a balcony basking in glory. Body art. Forearms. Jawlines. Peak performance vibes. Oh sure, England’s players insist they don’t use the label, which is funny because if it doesn’t exist, what did we see?

However, everyone understands the concept. It’s the batsman executing a stroke so unconventional it’s beyond belief. It’s the thrill of Ben Stokes in ultimate mode, a demeanor suggesting: thoughtful warrior, strong features, natural look, genuinely raw you wouldn’t be surprised to notice and see him playing in the field shirtless holding a fish.

It’s the batsman often seen speaking publicly, out there looking like a joyful figure in a waistcoat, saying stuff like we’re challenging norms. Certainly, the atmosphere, initially, was only good energy.

3. Expansion Period

Development stage. Unity enforced via memorization of the cult’s slogans. These beliefs may seem irrational to prove commitment.

Does anyone else feel? The criticism, the outrage, the sense of betrayal following the initial loss appears excessive, unwarranted. The performance was poor in Perth, as history shows. They were torn apart defensively in a short span as plans unraveled, manipulated by the batsman playing aggressively but smarter, responsive to the situation, an athlete shining with brilliance.

Currently, we see the attacks, the frustration, the perception of the team as a disgrace. The feeling seems to be that defeat must be total, they must be humbled, to be scoured, flame-throwered, destroyed through sheer skill of the pace attack, the low-fi orthodoxies of the bowler, out there celebrating his wickets with a bashful smile similar to getting a rewarding prize. What will this do to them?

4. Hate Bonding

Issues emerge because of mistakes. Yet, mistakes are denied. It turns to hatred of the outside world.

The fact remains, a few days before from the second Test, we are at a delicious point of tension in the story of this thing. Victory is possible overseas with bold tactics. More likely, failure may follow. And if they do lose it feels like we could be witnessing the death cult phase.

Before that happens, a couple of points worth saying on the topic. In the past, at the start, of optimism and energy, I wrote an article calling it a phenomenon. There was outrage, which demonstrated as it’s known the best way of proving that it’s not a closed group is if supporters respond with anger denying scrutiny of the beliefs.

The developments recently are fascinating. Criticism of the approach is now the trend. Social media is furious, angry English pundits, shots of angry middle-aged travelling fans cheated out of three days of cricket, reminiscent of investors demanding recourse.

Conversely, we have the wider backdrop of the host’s complex more culturally hard-wired exasperation at these weirdly passive-aggressive buccaneers, out there saying, your cherished traditions and have honed to distinguish yourselves culturally from us, well, it’s all a bit of a gag ultimately.

This is the core issue. Everything is a cult. The approach was a phenomenon as the game has its own culture. Or at least, the team has long been exclusive, a clique, a private event, a closed world with a long history of ceremonial past behind it. This has always been where influence is guarded. It’s the imperial sport of the nation, the early image-makers. And guess what, the nation has its own culture, a system of unknown levels, a royal family remains.

The team have been sealed up in this system since childhood. In trying to escape from it, to build a better atmosphere, they are just repeating their upbringing, creating another a bubble, an exclusive group, however with 15 cool guys and a leader who wants you to be yourself as long as yourself is quite a lot like myself.

Focus on the moment. Confront risks. Despite efforts, you remain stuck.

Considering this, now is the time to show understanding for Bazball, to appreciate its good points, of which there are many. How to define it? Creating a sense of freedom. Defying norms. Batting aggressively|Attacking with